Brexit CHANNEL REPORT
people have staked their future
on the problem not being
answered so, until we remove
them, expect uncertainty to
perpetuate.”
Paul Burn at Nimans says
the ideal outcome is to just
make a decision and get on
with it.
“Let’s crack on. is mess
has gone on for too long and
needs to be resolved as soon as
possible.”
Brexit & Data Security
One of the key issues facing
channel partners these days is
Data Security, a subject that
in recent times has gained an
even higher pro le due to the
introduction of the GDPR in
May 2018. Whilst the GDPR is
a set of regulations issued and
controlled by the EU we knew
from the outset that it would
apply in the UK whether we
remained or left.
In March 2019 the
Information Commissioner’s
O ce (ICO) issued guidance
for rms in the UK on steps to
be taken in the event of the UK
leaving the EU – see the check
list graphic.
e ICO has promised to
keep their site up to date with
the impact of Brexit on data
security issues and currently
their advice is that if you only
operate within the UK, you
may not need to do much to
prepare for data protection after
we leave the EU.
e UK is committed to
the high standards of data
protection set out in the
General Data Protection
Regulation (GDPR), and
the government plans to
incorporate the GDPR into UK
law when we leave. erefore,
your best preparation for
the future UK regime is to
ensure that you are e ectively
complying with the GDPR
now.
>
xxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx
Brexit referendum. We
see tremendous market
opportunities in the
UK, which is why in the last
couple of years we have moved
to bigger o ces in London
and opened a new o ce in
Manchester to enhance our
support for our Northern
partners.
We believe in the UK team
and the UK market. It forms
part of our long-term plan,
which sees the UK continue
to maintain a key role in our
overall company growth,
whatever the outcome of
Brexit.”
Iain Sinnott at VanillaIP
says what a lot of people are
thinking, “Apart from the
fact that we, along with just
about everyone, are sick of
hearing about it, it is very
much business as usual with
the added incentive that
productivity will be a focus for
businesses if we leave or remain
and as that’s what we all sell we
shouldn’t lose.”
Paul Burn at Nimans says,
“We are in a fortunate position
as we are a strong stockholding
distributor, so we are
robust enough to deal with the
current uncertainty. It’s not
ideal for anyone but we are
con dent we have the stock
levels required to ensure our
customers remain una ected as
far as possible.”
What are your major concerns
for the future of the UK
economy?
“We haven’t planned around
an unknown,” says Hans
Szymanski at NFON
“What we have done is
believe in the UK and its
market. It is easy to use Brexit
as an excuse to hold o making
important growth decisions,
but ultimately the challenges
and opportunities are largely
similar, no matter what the
political and regulatory
climate.”
Iain Sinnott says his biggest
fear is that we spend our entire
time arguing like children
over one thing and let go the
opportunity that technology
and hard work combined can
bring us.
“ ere is no doubt that the
UK workforce has had to work
really hard over the past years
but employers and government
have focused too little on
motivation which is why
productivity is down. Invest
in the workers and their tools
and we will see rapid growth
and perhaps a few more people
smiling.”
According to Paul Burn at
Nimans, currency uctuations
continue to be a ected by the
Brexit uncertainty when buying
stock but on a personal level he
is not worried about the future
of the UK economy.
“We are a very resilient
country with equally resilient
people.”
Are there any mitigating steps
that you have taken in your
business to prepare for a
worst/best case scenario?
Sinnott says businesses need to
be alert and eet of foot.
“It’s all very well preparing
for a Brexit result but what else
should we be preparing for?
My biggest challenge is getting
more sta recruited to take
advantage of a great product in
a great market, perhaps because
we are always focused on the
negatives. Brexit, a race to the
bottom on price in dial-tone!
We are the engineers of the next
industrial revolution and we
need to start channelling our
internal Isambard Kingdom
Brunel.”
Paul Burn at Nimans says
staying one step ahead of the
game is crucial by forward
planning as much as possible.
“Keeping in close
contact with suppliers and
communicating information
to our customers is crucial
to minimise any potential
disruptions should they arise in
the future.”
And fi nally, what would be your
ideal outcome for Brexit?
“One that makes everyone
smile,” says Iain Sinnott. “But,
as we are as likely to get that as
we are to own a pet unicorn, I
will settle for one that occurs
soon. I fear however that key
www.commsbusiness.co.uk October 2019 | Comms Business Magazine | 39
/www.commsbusiness.co.uk