Brexit and SMEs: Lords EU Internal Market Committee to hold roundtable

The discussion will focus on the impact so far of Brexit on SMEs, understanding among SMEs of the impact Brexit will have on their business, how the Government can support start-ups and smaller businesses generally, and funding for SMEs.

Taking part in the roundtable event will be: 

• Martin McTague, National Policy Director, Federation of Small Businesses
• Mark Brownridge, Director General, Enterprise Investment Scheme Association
• John Foster, Head of Campaigns, Confederation of British Industry
• Dr Adam Marshall, Director General, British Chambers of Commerce
• Irene Graham, CEO, ScaleUp Institute
• Ian Cass, Managing Director, Forum of Private Business
• Professor John Wilson, Professor of Banking & Finance and the Director of Research at the School of Management, University of St Andrews
• Rob Vivian, CEO, PureComms
• Philip Salter, Director, The Entrepreneurs Network
• Simon Hansford, CEO, UKCloud

Questions are likely to include:

• What have been the main impacts of Brexit on SMEs to date?
• What is your assessment of SMEs' capacity to manage the challenges and opportunities of Brexit?
• Is there sufficient understanding among UK SMEs that trade in the EU of the implications of operating as ‘third country' businesses in the Single Market?
• How well is the Government engaging with the SME sector to help inform their negotiating position on the future UK-EU relationship?
• Are you confident that EU funding schemes for SMEs can be fully replaced by equivalent UK Government programmes and other financing?
• How important do you think a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation will be in helping to drive the UK economy forward in the post-Brexit world?

The session will start at 10:15am on Thursday 26 April in Committee Room 4A of the House of Lords.