A nationwide survey by leading B2B magazine Drapers has identified the four key objectives the £28bn sector wants from the government’s Brexit negotiations. After interviewing over 300 fashion businesses and stakeholders including multiple retailers, independent boutiques and brands in the UK, Drapers discovered the four key issues UK fashion businesses want the government to focus on: secure favourable trade agreements, ensure free movement of people, maintain funding for education and development and protect intellectual property and design rights.
Drapers editor Keely Stocker said: “When the Brexit vote was announced it left everyone with an uncertainty about what the future would hold. This survey has allowed us to find out the key issues the industry believe should be a priority in the Brexit negotiations and, by taking it to the government, Drapers will be the voice of the industry to help set the future political agenda.”
1. Secure favourable trade agreements
Many respondents who source from or sell to EU countries are anxious about the additional costs that could result in higher duties on imports and exports after the UK leaves the EU. Brexit also presents an opportunity to set up new trade deals with markets such as China, the US and Japan, and Drapers’ survey made it clear these discussions are expected to be the number one priority in Brexit negotiations.
2. Ensure free movement of people
Prime minister Theresa May has made it clear that she wants the UK to have control over its immigration and respondents to the survey agree that the UK should look at how to upskill its own citizens. However, a larger number are worried that members of their staff – including difficult-to-replace skilled machinists – could be forced to leave the country, and have also pointed out that the UK fashion industry relies on attracting talent from across the world to maintain its position on the global stage.
3. Maintain funding for education and development
Universities, the British Fashion Council, the Centre for Fashion Enterprise and myriad other institutions have access to hundreds of millions of euros in EU funding – losing this financial support could undermine the UK’s status as a breeding ground for fashion talent. Furthermore, British businesses are currently eligible to apply for certain EU funds and it is still not clear whether the UK government will step in to replace this and other lost EU funding.
4. Protect intellectual property and design rights
UK fashion businesses are currently subject to – and can take advantage of – EU trademarks and EU-wide design protection laws. There has been a huge amount of speculation and the government must provide clarity on whether certain EU directives will continue to apply in the UK post-Brexit, and what will be done to tighten up UK legislation.
The detailed results of the survey will be published online and in Drapers magazine.
