Unfortunately, most of the survey results aren’t a surprise. The government’s priority in the Brexit negotiations are sectors in which there is an international supply chain in terms of goods with parts that across the channel several times in production such as automotive and aerospace. Construction comes relatively low in their priorities compared with other sectors.

The key issues for construction in terms of Brexit are clearly in terms of labour/skills, given the reliance on EU labour particularly in London, as well as the ability to import products.

The government’s Brexit White Paper in July 2018 is a step forward in giving us an idea as to what government is looking for from a deal with the EU but this came out over two years after the EU referendum. It is uncertain whether the EU would accept it and the lack of detail in the Brexit White Paper remains a concern. We still won’t find out what the regime will be post-Brexit for attracting in labour from abroad until the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) publishes its report in the Autumn so we continue to have uncertainty on the biggest issue.

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