Untangling Brexit: A postcard from Northern Ireland
June marks nine years since the UK voted to leave the European Union. I remember the exact moment I read the headline ‘UK Votes to Leave the EU’ on my phone and the feeling of shock that started to set in. My first thought was, “Er, now what?” Little did I know I would still be asking that question nine years later… Nine years of uncertainty, negotiations, grace periods, frameworks, and meticulously crafted non-statements. But still no solution.
And I don’t mean to trivialise what we all know is a highly complex, highly sensitive negotiation, but it is hard to keep optimistic at times. One man who can certainly relate to this feeling is Roger Pollen. Roger is the Head of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in Northern Ireland which represents around 6,000 members from diverse sectors. I met him the day after his Brexit-themed keynote speech at the GFSB’s 2024 Annual Dinner, during which he delivered a realistic, but optimistic address on how Northern Ireland’s small businesses made it through the post-Brexit landscape.
The Brexit Vote and Its Aftermath
The 2016 UK Referendum saw Northern Ireland voting 56% to remain in the EU, in contrast to Gibraltar’s overwhelming will to stay within the EU with 96% voting remain. Despite these differences, the collective decision was to leave the EU, leading to inevitable separation without a clear plan. The collapse of the Northern Ireland Executive in 2017 further complicated matters, placing the burden on businesses to navigate the uncertain landscape.
According to Roger, FSB Northern Ireland actively engaged with its members through focus groups and policy teams to understand their ambitions and concerns. The outcome was a vision of Northern Ireland as a unique entity capable of leveraging its position between the EU and the UK. This ambitious vision was captured in two policy papers, envisioning Northern Ireland as the ‘Singapore of the Western Hemisphere’, with access to both markets.
Shaping the Debate and Overcoming Challenges
With no Executive ministers, FSB Northern Ireland took the lead in shaping the debate. Roger highlighted their extensive engagement with political leaders, UK Cabinet Members, and the media to keep the issues at the forefront. This proactive approach was necessary to address the numerous challenges posed by the Northern Ireland Protocol (NIP), which Ministers promised would operate without checks on goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland but quickly proved problematic.
According to Roger, “The border between the EU and Ireland actually exists in the ports in Northern Ireland, which I think is a source of friction and irritation as well, because effectively, it’s Northern Ireland having to impose rules and restrictions on itself that it doesn’t necessarily want. So, if you imagine a lorry load of product coming in from Scotland into Northern Ireland destined for supermarkets to be sold in Northern Ireland, that has to be compliant with the rules of the European Union’s single market or it has to have a very good and clear set of restrictions around it to ensure that it can’t go into that market.
The Sticking Plaster Approach
Roger explained that the initial relief among business owners soon gave way to frustration as the transition period ended in 2020, bringing a slew of bureaucratic hurdles. From second-hand car prices to food safety checks, businesses faced a barrage of issues requiring ‘sticking plaster’ solutions, often termed Grace Periods. These temporary measures, while sometimes effective, highlighted the underlying instability of the NIP.
Roger further elaborated, “That border also has a significance because of the history of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, so there was a general sense that it shouldn’t be reinforced, reinstated, as a hard border where you would check things like customs and identity and so on. “So as a result of that, there was a move to manage the border somewhere else and that ended up being in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It’s there to affect the goods that come into Northern Ireland because they’re deemed to be at risk of going into the EU through Northern Ireland.”
Engaging with Political Entities: A Delicate Balance
FSB Northern Ireland maintained a politically neutral stance, engaging with all parties to advocate for their members’ needs. Roger emphasised that this balanced approach was essential in a region marked by Unionist versus Nationalist politics, ensuring that all business cohorts, especially those most adversely affected, were represented.
Roger’s advice to Gibraltar was clear: “The challenge is to try and envisage what a good future would look like, so you know what you’re working towards. Otherwise, there’s always the temptation to resist things being suggested and proposed rather than having a vision of what you’re actually trying to get to. So when we assessed our market, we identified what we call five cohorts of businesses affected by the protocol. The first cohort was the ones for whom the protocol worked well, like the farming sector. The second cohort was those largely unaffected, like services. The third cohort was largely unaware because they were so small and they got their supplies from somebody in Northern Ireland doing the process for them. The fourth cohort was people protected by grace periods, and the fifth cohort was the ones who were badly affected. When we mapped it out like that and put the focus on the fifth cohort, we realised we couldn’t afford for anybody to be left behind. That started to give us a sense of focusing on what we needed to do.”
Looking Ahead: Potential and Caution
Roger pointed out that the evolving nature of post-Brexit regulations means that Northern Ireland and Gibraltar must remain adaptable. Northern Ireland’s unique access to the EU and UK markets positions it for potential economic resurgence. However, the need for continued advocacy and innovative solutions, such as the proposed Regulatory Compliance Certification Service (RCCS), remains critical.
While Roger acknowledged that “Post-Brexit business is good. By certain metrics, it is very good. There’s quite a lot of confidence, things are going well,” he also noted the need for growth. “In Northern Ireland, there’s X number of people who will start a new business every year per 10,000 population. In England, that’s 2X and in America, it’s 5X. So five times more people per 10,000 in America will start a business this year than in Northern Ireland. Our economy is pretty much treading water. We would typically have a business birth rate of about 10% and a business death rate of about 10%.”
As we continue to face post-Brexit uncertainty, the experiences and survival strategies employed by the FSB in Northern Ireland offer valuable insights and, crucially, hope. Roger Pollen’s experiences highlight the importance of advocacy, strategic planning, and flexibility when facing a post-Brexit landscape. Gibraltar’s small businesses can perhaps draw from these lessons to start finding some sense in the uncertainty and thrive regardless.
SHARE THIS
OTHER
From the increasing influence of AI to the rise of social commerce and sustainability-driven consumer demand, the key to success lies in adapting strategically rather than chasing every new trend. This guide breaks down the most impactful trends for the year ahead—offering insights on how to integrate them into your business without losing sight of what already works. Smart adaptation, not blind reinvention, is the name of the game. Here's what to expect and how to make it work for you.
Two decades is a long time for any business - with all the strife that businesses large and small have had to endure these past four years, it seems that anxiety among business owners has never been higher. I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Garren Thompson, co-owner and co-founder of Gibraltar hair & beauty salon Miss Shapes, based on Bishop Rapallo’s Ramp. As the business recently hit the 20-year milestone, we discussed the highs and lows of creating a successful salon in a saturated market, how he and his team created their new range of Miss Shapes branded Hair & Beauty products and how this will help build success for another 20 years.
Technology is having a major effect on every aspect of our lives, and the retail environment is not immune to these changes. Not only has online shopping revolutionised the way we think about buying and consuming, but it has also dramatically changed how we shop in physical stores.
In an age where small businesses must adapt to stay in business, outsourcing has long been a way to enhance efficiency and streamline operations. Derived from the simple philosophy of delegating certain non-core tasks to external experts, outsourcing allows businesses to concentrate on their primary objectives and strengths. For the uninitiated, it's about seeking external expertise for tasks outside your comfort zone, skills base or business's main expertise.
We all have bad days, right? In business, that can mean we don’t bring our A-game to work and perhaps our service slips. Maybe a dish takes too long to reach a table or a staff member sounds distracted at the till. This could lead to negative Google Reviews or on ‘that’ Facebook group that […]
If, like me, you spend more time than you should doom scrolling LinkedIn, you could be tempted into thinking no-one fails. LinkedIn has become a hyperbolic haven and a place to scream and shout about success. But what about failures - why aren’t we talking about them? In business, failure is inevitable. I mean it. Whether it's a product flop, a marketing misstep, or a company on the brink of collapse, every entrepreneur will face moments that test them. Yet, history has shown that these failures can often be the starting point for something extraordinary.
Stepping into a leadership role can be exciting. It’s a chance to shape the future and lead a team to success. But with a leadership role comes a new level of responsibility. You’re suddenly the person others look to for direction and answers, and it’s your role to create a workplace where they can thrive - while also being accountable for their work. And that isn’t always an easy balancing act. Leadership is a learning curve - an eternal one at that. By focusing on a few key behaviours and techniques, you can set yourself on the right path to lead well, build a great high performing team and help your business grow.
Finding time to sit down with a book can feel like a luxury sometimes. We seem to be pulled in all sorts of directions, yet many of us still want to learn and stay exposed to new ideas. Podcasts have filled part of that gap. They’re accessible, conversational and easy to consume while commuting or […]
2 mins |
Business Plan Essentials
You have a brilliant idea. You can picture the logo, the customers, maybe even the first sale. But without a clear plan for how to get there, the idea risks staying exactly that - an idea. Starting a business without a plan is like setting off on a trip with no map. You might eventually arrive somewhere, but it is unlikely to be where you hoped. A business plan is not just paperwork. When written with care, it is a roadmap that guides every decision, a pitch that wins support, and a source of confidence on the days when challenges mount.
In an increasingly digital work environment where we have more emails, WhatsApp messages & interruptions than ever before, many business leaders started looking at ways of alleviating the stress that comes with this increased workload. Relaxing the dress code and letting your team dress down and wear in more casual clothing is one way of doing this….Or is it?
If you’re looking to grow your business, expand your reach post Treaty or simply try something new, collaboration can be one of the most effective ways to do it. The key is approaching it with a bit of structure. And resisting the urge to say yes to everything just because someone seemed nice over a […]
Imposter syndrome is a psychological behaviour where individuals, including many high achievers, struggle with persistent feelings of self-doubt, inadequacy, or the fear of being exposed as a fraud. Despite their achievements, those experiencing imposter syndrome believe they are undeserving of their success or worry that they've misled others into overestimating their abilities.
When you’re a small business, staying one step ahead of the competition is essential. Yet, many small business owners grapple with the decision to invest in employee training and development. With limited resources and immediate financial pressures, it can unintentionally get pushed to the bottom of the priority list. However, investing in your team’s learning and development is a strategic move that can yield significant returns.
For many businesses, standing out from the crowd in an already crowded marketplace is a mammoth task. But for Fresquita one of the ways they tackled this issue was with highly creative packaging.
Mental health issues affect us all. How we manage our daily stresses and anxieties have an impact on our relationships, how we perform in our job and the workplace environment, and our outlook on life. Becoming self-aware of what affects us, managing how we respond to triggers and using tools to help us work through them, are all part of our journey towards MENTAL FITNESS, which is how we should be positively defining it.
When you’ve been running your own business for a while, you know what works, and it’s easy to rely on the skills that got you to where you are. Chances are, you’re comfortable doing things in a certain way, and your team knows what to expect from your leadership style.
Fair recruitment is based on the principle that candidates are judged on their ability to do the job rather than influenced by factors such as an applicant’s gender, religion, ethnicity, or any other quality unrelated to their skills and expertise. As the Founder of Rock Learning and the Co-Founder of the ‘Count me In’ DEIB Conference, I have developed a deep understanding of the topic and how small businesses can implement inclusive hiring practices.
Whether you’re an ebook tapper or traditional page turner, there are thousands of books that can make you better at business. Áine Panter, Head of the School of Business at the University of Gibraltar has curated a list of must-reads that will inspire, inform, and equip you for success.
Starting and running a small business is rewarding but comes with its fair share of challenges. The path of entrepreneurship is often characterised by immense dedication, long hours, and tough decisions. As a small business owner, you're not just responsible for the operations and growth of your company and team, but also for your own wellbeing.
Did you know that what you eat directly affects your energy levels, brain function, and stress resilience? Poor dietary habits—such as skipping meals, consuming too much caffeine, or relying on processed foods—can lead to energy crashes, brain fog, and reduced efficiency. On the other hand, a well-balanced diet stabilises blood sugar, enhances cognitive function, and keeps stress levels in check.