Most recently, major businesses and global brands such as BMW and Airbus threatened that it may not invest as heavily in the UK as it has done in the past, if a deal is not reached. The companies say that production could be relocated.

Now, the BBC has reported that the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has published a list of 23 ‘real world’ questions that need to be answered, for the sake of businesses that urgently need to know what will happen when Britain leaves the European Union.

In 2016 and indeed up until now, the major concerns for both the print and sign industry was the uncertainty and lack of clarity surrounding the process. The BCC says that companies are no clearer on any issues than when the decision to leave was first announced.

The 23 questions include topics on customs and whether there will be new procedures, checks on goods. With companies becoming international, the mobility of workers to move staff between offices is also a question.
Businesses also feel that they are still not listened to, despite it being made easier to put views across for Theresa May. Because of the slow progress of the Brexit negotiations, businesses are preparing for the worst, which is shown by the potential moves of BMW and Airbus.

Speaking to the BBC, Adam Marshall, director general of the BCC, says: “Over the past two years, businesses have been patient. Now with the time running out ahead of the UK’s exit from the EU, business patience is reaching breaking point.

“It’s time for politicians to stop the squabbling and the Westminster point-scoring concerns of businesses of every size and sector, in every part of the UK.”

Smaller sign-makers will arguably have less worries when it comes to Brexit, but with multinational companies such as Fastsigns, which have franchisees across the globe and many in Britain, will be watching more closely.

Britain voted to the leave the European Union in 2016, with the split supposed to happen in 2019

There are also several EU laws surrounding aspects of sign-making including the production of neon signage. Will these rules change? Earlier in the year, the fear of losing neon altogether came very close. As creating this style of signage requires substances such as mercury, which is banned over a certain level due to the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) law.

At the time, the British Sign and Graphics Association (BSGA) and the European Sign Federation (ESF) were applying for a continued exemption to save this traditional sign industry stalwart.

Luckily, the ESF takes care of sign industries inside Europe regardless of whether the country is in the EU or not. In this case, this aspect of the sign industry should be safe from any changes, should the exemption continue the use of these gasses.

The rise of inflation, potential trade wars sparked by moves made by American President Donald Trump, the price of oil and just general struggles in a competitive industry are adding to the worries surrounding the next few years for businesses.

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