With much of the debate in the EU referendum campaign revolving around economics, psd has been considering what a Brexit would mean for our clients’ businesses.

Whilst no one can fully predict the impact of leaving the EU, the effects on business, employment and wage inflation are well worth considering.

This spring psd undertook a UK wide survey of thousands of industry leaders in order to understand their views on the effect of a possible Brexit on their business. We were particularly keen to explore how our clients believe a potential exit from the EU will affect their business expansion and hiring plans, and crucially which way they would vote.

Business leaders are voting to stay! 

Given the choice to leave or stay in the European Union, overwhelmingly nearly 70% of respondents said they would choose to stay in the EU. This is contrary to high profile polls across broadcasting networks, which show a closer split. Opinions varied according to the sector – 90% of leaders in the Hospitality & Leisure sector said that they would vote against an exit, whereas only 62% of respondents from the Property & Construction sector said they would vote to stay in Europe.

If we leave the EU, will you still expand your business.

If Britain was no longer part of the EU, 66% of business leaders feel the likelihood of them expanding their business will not change. However, nearly 30% believed that there would be a decrease in business expansion. Some sectors, such as Banking & Financial Services, expressed more concern, with 46% feeling that there would be a decrease; 48% of Technology leaders mirrored this sentiment.

The effect of Brexit on hiring people.

Within the Hospitality & Leisure sector, 70% of business leaders feel it will be harder to hire staff if Britain were to leave the EU. However, 56% of respondents from the Property & Construction sector don’t feel there will be any difference.