A seminar exploring the pros and cons of EU membership is being staged by accountancy, investment management and tax group Smith & Williamson in Bristol next Tuesday.
The event follows new survey results showing business owners are becoming increasingly worried about the UK leaving the EU after June 23’s referendum. 
The latest Smith & Williamson Enterprise Index reveals that 81% of respondents felt that Brexit would negatively impact their business, up 13% from a year ago.
The Smith & Williamson seminar will be led by the firm’s chief investment strategist Philip Lawlor.
He will explore the truths and falsehoods at a macro level in an effort to help business leaders make an informed decision on which way to vote as well as to plan for either outcome.
Smith & Williamson Bristol office managing partner Mike Lea, pictured, said: “When we first sought business owners’ thoughts on Brexit almost a year ago, the Conservative Party had just been elected and a potential Brexit felt quite remote.
“However, as we approach the referendum date, business leaders are seemingly more apprehensive about the prospect of leaving the EU.”
The Enterprise Index, which measures the views and confidence of UK owner-managers and entrepreneurs, decreased four points to 111.4 – its lowest point for 12 months.
Brexit worries and concerns over the state of the UK and global economy also appear to be the primary cause for a 9% decline in growth expectations.
Respondents did, however, find some reasons to be cheerful. Some 80% felt their own prospects for the next 12 months had improved – up 5% from the last quarter.
Mike Lea added: “This improvement potentially highlights an entrepreneurial self-belief in spite of broader market headwinds.
“Overall, business owners appear quite confident in their own ability to grow, with 74% anticipating growth – or an acquisition – in the next 12 months. In addition, a record 50% thought that access to funding had improved over the past quarter, despite only 38% having an appetite to borrow.”
The venue for the seminar has yet to be confirmed. For more information contact Rebecca Walford at rebecca.walford@smith.williamson.co.uk
