COUNTY business leaders gave their Brexit predictions to delegates at the Three Counties Hotel in Hereford.

With the Brexit deadline looming ever closer and the government at loggerheads with itself, business leaders gathered at the conference held on to discuss what the future may hold for Herefordshire when the UK leaves the European Union.

Speakers included Richard Butler, regional director of the Confederation of British Industry, Frank Myers, chair of the Herefordshire Business Board, Harrison Clarke Rickerby’s Robert Capper, Nicholas Groffman and Beverley Smith.

The conference covered many of the shared concerns of businesses as the country stands on the brink of exiting the EU, with speakers giving reassurance and advice to attending business delegates, 32 per cent of whom have explored markets outside of Europe since the referendum.

Richard Butler said: “We are cautiously optimistic that Theresa May will be able to get something through Parliament; they may not want what is on the table, but they want a ‘no deal’ even less.”

Drawing on his own experiences and concerns, Mr Myers said: “We need to redouble our exporting efforts. Especially if we can now sell anywhere.

“What concerns me is the paperwork and how that will increase.”

A vote taken during the conference revealed that 82 per cent of the delegates would vote the same way now as they did in the referendum, whilst 46 per cent were less confident of their business success post Brexit.

An online Brexit survey for businesses across the region will remain open until March at www.hcrlaw.com/brexit-survey