Curbing freedom of movement '˜will mean rethink for firms'

Chris Hearld, Northern chairman of accountancy giant 
KMPG, told The Yorkshire Post that several of Yorkshire’s key business sectors such as food and drink were heavily reliant on labour from EU member states and that bosses across the region were very concerned about their ability to replace highly skilled workers from abroad if freedom of movement principles were curtailed.

Mr Hearld said: “Yorkshire needs the Government to pursue a commercially 
appropriate approach to immigration.

“Several of Yorkshire’s core industries, such as food production, rely on workforces that are dominated by immigrant labour from Europe. As it currently stands there is no guarantee that employees will be permitted to remain in the region.

“And those leading Yorkshire’s businesses are extremely concerned about their ability to replace EU nationals with domestic personnel, should they need to, as this has historically been a difficult circle to square.

“Curbing freedom of movement could therefore require Yorkshire’s manufacturing base to re-evaluate its staffing and indeed operational models quickly to address the threat to productivity and output of labour becoming a dramatically more scarce resource.

“Equally, the region’s technology, higher education and health sectors are reliant on some extremely highly educated and skilled immigrants.

“Yorkshire cannot afford to lose the valuable input of so many talented people from Europe who provide a crucial contribution to our economy and society.”

Elsewhere, one of Yorkshire’s top hospitality bosses said that it was important not to talk down the nation’s economy during negotiations and that the high emotions that have followed the referendum were not making for a healthy debate.

Dan Gill, pictured, founder of Dine, an award winning company providing event planning, catering and venue management, said a mature debate was required in which all voices were heard as the Government begins its negotiations to leave the European Union.

He said: “At the moment the issue provokes such a visceral response, with people often shouted down before being able to engage. Business should be able to be honest about their concerns and we almost need to be able to forget our personal positions and say what is it we need from Government.”