The Westcountry has unique opportunities to lead the way in the post-Brexit economy, the region’s business leaders say.
They were speaking after a Confederation of British Industry (CBI) report yesterday called on the Prime Minister to ensure a trade deal with Brussels that minimises bureaucracy to ensure a strong economy.
Ministers are expected to commit to seeking to obtain a Canada-style agreement with zero tariffs in the negotiating mandate scheduled for publication on Thursday.
But this could set up a clash with the EU after its chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, ruled out the possibility the 海角视频 can have the same deal as Canada has.
Much of the focus until now has been on goods and produce, but the CBI called on the government to focus on the services sector, which forms 80% of the 海角视频 economy.
Kim Conchie, chief executive of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, said that cutting red tape would provide a big boost to the economy – but that had to start with our own civil servants, who frequently “lead-plated”EU regulations.
That was part of the reason why EU-funded schemes in Cornwall had failed, he said.
“It was Cornwall which decided locally that tourism would be ineligible for EU funding, on the basis that it was strong enough to look after itself.”
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But he said tourism could have benefited from funding aimed at extending the season. That in turn would have improved staff retention and made training more worthwhile for employers.
“Brexit is a good moment to hold our own ministers and local authorities to account,” Mr Conchie said.
“We have the EU to thank for some of the developments towards renewable energy. But we should now be freeing up grants for local energy production.
“We have some amazing companies in Cornwall which are breaking the mould on energy storage, such as St Austell-based Wattstor.
“I would like to see us being a real leader in implementing that.”
While the 海角视频 formally left the EU on January 31, it is currently in a transition period during which it follows Brussels’ rules without having a say in how they are made.
The transition is due to finish on December 31 and the Prime Minister has repeatedly vowed not to extend it.
But there have been fears this is too little time to strike the ambitious deal and the 海角视频 could plummet out of the bloc and be hit with high trade tariffs.
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The PM is to convene his Brexit Cabinet on Tuesday to sign off on the mandate before it is published online and laid in Parliament on Thursday.
However, as talks being in earnest, the CBI and other business groups have had their voices muted by Downing Street in apparent retaliation for their outspoken views on Brexit.
The CBI, British Chambers of Commerce, Institute of Directors, Make 海角视频 and the Federation of Small Businesses were told last month that instead of their usual weekly meeting with the business secretary, there will be a monthly session with more than a dozen corporate leaders.
The change has a left a clear feeling among Westcountry business organisations that they need to develop their own agendas.
There are also fears that Dominic Cummings and Boris Johnson could come down hard on the NFU, which has not toed the line in the government’s drive to restructure farming and food production after the Brexit transition period.
Tim Jones, chairman of the South West Business Council, said: “We believe there needs to be much greater prioritisation around growth sectors.
“The government’s plans for investment-led growth are eagerly awaited but it’s crucial that the business community responds with its own investment plans and that the days of asking government for support need to be matched witha a delivery agenda that is business-led.”
The government’s Industrial Strategy has several areas where the South West could benefit.
The strategy spells out four “Grand Challenges”: artificial intelligence and data; an ageing society; clean growth; and the future of mobility.
Healthy ageing is an important opportunity for business in the South West, which has a high proportion of older residents.
Mr Jones said: “The South West can claim to be at the forefront of clean growth. We are poised to start exploiting our great natural capital assets.
“The South West’s economy will be centred on ecosystem services – as a business, and not just nice to look at.
“High-energy crops such as miscanthus (commonly known as elephant grass) are a huge opportunity for us.”
Miscanthus grows more than three metres tall and is a favourite choice as a biofuel, outperforming maize and other alternatives.
The South West coastline also has potential for commercial farming of seagrass, which can be harvested as an animal feed or green fertiliser.