Last week I was pleased to have the opportunity to address a group of local business owners and managers at a meeting of the mid-Warwickshire branch of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.
As ever, I was kept on my toes responding to questions on a wide range of topics. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Britain’s exit from the European Union dominated much of the discussion and attendees expressed their concerns about the uncertainty that our decision to leave has caused. Businesses are rightly calling for strong leadership and stability and seeking reassurance that their businesses will continue to grow and prosper.
Whilst I did not vote to leave the European Union, I fully recognise that the majority of those who voted did. Now that the decision is made, it is imperative that we get the best deal we can.
I have been in the Cabinet for more than two years now and I have to say that I found the mood of the first post-referendum cabinet upbeat when it first met. Our view is that our new status outside the EU can (and will) open up some exciting opportunities with other parts of the world. We have to make the most of those and to maximise our tradition as a trading nation.
That being said, we do have to look at our productivity which is too low considering all our strengths and we have to see that improve. Measuring productivity has to take into account how good conditions are for people to do business and that includes factors such as efficient and fast broadband and a good road and transport infrastructure.
In addition, I believe it is important that vocational education needs as much focus as academic education to ensure those courses and qualifications match the needs of businesses. These are all issues that we discussed at the meeting last week.
Nobody should believe that the negotiating Brexit will be quick or easy. It will involve consideration of many areas of our national life but foremost among them should a determination to preserve the prospects of our businesses of all sizes in pursuing new opportunities all around the world.