Three of the UK’s leading authorities on Brexit planning are coming to Cumbria to help businesses prepare.

Simon Hart, Brexit lead partner with the accountant RSM, and Luke Donockley and Robin Adams of the law firm Muckle LLP, are the headline speakers at a Cumbria Chamber of Commerce breakfast briefing in Kendal on Tuesday September 24 at the Castle Green Hotel from 8am to 10am.

Chamber chief executive Rob Johnston said: “It remains a distinct possibility that the UK will leave the EU on October 31st, or soon after, with immediate impacts for businesses if there is no deal.

“The briefing will explore sensible and practical measures that businesses can take to minimise disruption to their operations. It will also consider the impact of Brexit in the context of other global shocks such as rising protectionism and climate change.

“This is a golden opportunity for businesses to understand what they need to put in place and to pick the brains of three of the UK’s leading authorities on Brexit.

“I’d urge businesses to take advantage. This could be your last chance to get to grips with this.”

The chamber will also provide an analysis on how Brexit will affect Cumbria and details of new services it is launching to help businesses.

Places are free but businesses can register via the chamber website at https://www.cumbriachamber.co.uk

The chamber has warned that more than a fifth of businesses will cut investment and scale down recruitment if Britain leaves the European Union without a deal.

A survey of 1,500 businesses by the British Chambers of Commerce found that 24 per cent would curtail investment if a Brexit deal was not struck, while 22 per cent would hold back on recruiting staff.

The survey – which covered businesses of all sizes and from all sectors across the UK – found, in contrast, that only four per cent would increase investment in a no-deal Brexit scenario, and just three per cent would take on more staff.