BREXIT
Following on from BCF’s successful “Halfway to Brexit”
event last year, the BCF held a follow-up event on 28th
March, aimed at advising members on the impacts of Brexit.
It was a lively day with a great atmosphere, and included
speakers from government and industry. The event also
included an enthusiastic presentation from the Managing
Director of the Swiss Coatings Federation, Matthias
Baumberger, who talked about some of the positives of
being outside the EU. More on page 62.
BCF have also been very active in the press, with Tom
receiving national coverage on Brexit. See below for more
information.
This has been a huge exercise, with members manufacturing
thousands of products, made up of hundreds of different
substances, coming from all over the world.
What BCF is doing to help members
The BCF has been working to help members navigate what
Brexit means for their businesses. The BCF’s published a “no deal”
guide, which provides guidance for members in the event the
withdrawal agreement doesn’t have approval from the UK and
the EU 28. It could also be relevant after any transition period if
a deal is agreed, but if no future trading agreement is reached.
What next for the BCF?
Brexit has presented many challenges for the industry, and the
uncertainty has already had a tangible impact on BCF members.
However, the coatings, printing inks and wallcoverings industry
is resilient and will adapt post-Brexit, whatever form that takes.
BCF will also continue to defend key raw materials, feeding into
CEPE and working with other players in the supply chain. Finally,
one of our big topics for this year is biocides. Read more about
this on page 29, but it’s clear that Brexit or not, it’s a major issue
for members.
Ellen had to answer some tough questions at the Environmental
Audit Committee’s inquiry into chemical regulations post-Brexit
in December. Select Committees check and report on areas of
government policy- they present an opportunity for the public to
submit written, and sometimes oral evidence on the impact of a
particular policy. It’s a big honour that the BCF was invited to give
evidence, and is a testament to the fantastic contribution BCF
members make to the UK economy. As a result, coatings had a
direct mention in the Brexit debates in the House of Commons,
truly raising the profile of the sector in such an important setting.
BCF in the national press to promote Brexit
messages from members
2018 and 2019 have brought about a flurry of national press opportunities, where BCF have been approached to discuss implications
of Brexit on the businesses within the sector. Early in 2019, BCF’s Tom Bowtell was interviewed on BBC Radio 5’s ‘Wake up
to Money’ programme which reports on news and views on business and finance. During the interview, Tom discusses how the
industry is preparing for Brexit and the potential impacts of a no-deal scenario.
Following the Wake up to Money interview, BCF was approached by BBC’s World Service’s ‘Marketplace Morning Report’
which airs on 88 US public radio stations with a weekly audience of some 8 million people. The topic was again Brexit, and Tom again
highlighted the dangers of a no-deal Brexit, and what the industry is doing to prepare.
To further promote Brexit messages, BCF filmed a short video where Tom explains the industry’s general feeling in relation to the
implications of Brexit on business. To watch the video, visit www.youtube.com/BritishCoatingsFed
BCF ANNUAL HANDBOOK 2019/20
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