Sixth-Gen Wire-Maker Blames Brexit for Business Decline

September 07, 2024
Sixth-Gen Wire-Maker Blames Brexit for Business Decline
  • Wire-Maker Blames Brexit for Business Struggles

The leader of a family-run business that has produced specialised wires and cables for six generations for customers ranging from movie sets to navy vessels has accused Brexit of ruining their company.

Ormiston Wire's owner, Mark Ormiston, claimed that tiny companies like his had been "flushed down the toilet" by the architects of Brexit, who had not given much thought to the practical ramifications for UK industry.

Since Britain left the EU, the London-based company's exports to the EU have decreased by half. For a small business with £1.5 million in revenue and few opportunities for domestic expansion, losing the European market has been devastating.

The manufacturers' trade association, Make UK, released data indicating an 80% decrease in the quantity of goods sent to the European Union, with small and medium-sized enterprises suffering the most.

Our exports have decreased by half. Ormiston stated, "We were trying to genuinely increase exports in Europe because British manufacturing was declining, which it has since stopped doing.

Ormiston begged Keir Starmer, the newly appointed prime minister, to take into account the smaller businesses who lack access to the Treasury or the Labour Party conference in order to give them a voice. Starmer had pledged to restart contacts with the EU.

"Remember the many small British manufacturing companies that lead in design, ideas, and enthusiasm when it comes to bringing new products to market," was his message to Starmer.

"Make UK are the big guys," he continued, referring to British Aerospace, major manufacturers, and associations like the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). They don't care about us. However, if one were to multiply me by a million little businesses engaged in these insignificant activities, the result would be a substantial quantity of British exports.

"It has repercussions, don't they? Politicians don't care when they have a brilliant idea since they don't have to deal with the repercussions. They are either dead or in the House of Lords by the time it all starts.

Insiders in the government believe they are committed to removing as many trade obstacles as possible brought about by Brexit, but the impact will be little as Starmer has ruled out entering the single market and customs union.

The House of Commons library released a report in August indicating that the UK's exports of commodities to the European Union had not yet reached their pre-Brexit levels. The total amount of exports to the bloc was £153 million in 2023, but it hasn't exceeded £170 billion in any of the following calendar years: 2017, 2018, and 2019.

"We are working to reset the relationship with our European friends to tackle trade barriers," a government spokesperson stated.