Brexit’s bitter legacy: small firms count the cost

Cheshire cheesemaker Simon Spurrell

A decade after Britain voted to leave the European Union, many small business owners say Brexit has delivered rising costs, mounting bureaucracy and shrinking markets rather than the economic boost they were promised. For some, the pressure has proved fatal. Others have sold up, scaled back or retired early.

Export Dreams Collide With Border Reality

For Cheshire cheesemaker Simon Spurrell, Brexit transformed a growing export business into a paperwork nightmare. New health certification requirements made small-value sales to Europe financially unviable, forcing him to abandon key markets and eventually sell his company.

His experience is echoed across Britain's food sector. Small producers say they have been hit hardest by post-Brexit trade barriers, lacking the resources larger corporations can deploy to navigate complex customs and regulatory requirements.

The British berry industry is in decline

Farmers Face Growing Uncertainty

The strain has also been felt across the countryside. Kent berry farmer Alastair Brooks says Brexit accelerated his decision to retire, pointing to uncertainty over seasonal labour and what he describes as a lack of long-term government planning.

The end of free movement forced farms to recruit workers from further afield, while annual decisions over visa allocations left businesses struggling to plan ahead. For many operators, uncertainty became a business risk in its own right.

Wine merchant Daniel Lambert

Red Tape Chokes Trade

Wine merchant Daniel Lambert says the administrative burden of trading between Britain and Europe has exploded since Brexit. What was once a straightforward process now involves layers of customs declarations, commodity classifications, insurance requirements and tax documentation.

He argues that policymakers focused on the needs of major corporations while overlooking smaller firms that lacked the capacity to absorb additional costs and compliance demands.

Warning Signs for Britain’s Future

Manufacturers and exporters say the consequences extend beyond today's losses. Some report significant declines in EU trade, while industry leaders warn that British firms may struggle to launch new products into European markets if border friction persists.

As the EU develops new industrial and technology regulations, business groups fear the gap could widen further. Ten years on from the referendum, many small firms say Brexit is no longer a political argument. It is a commercial reality they are still paying for.

‘A total, utter nightmare’: small businesses on Brexit, 10 years on | Brexit | The Guardian