Guildford Skills Gap After Brexit Warning

Published on: 17 Nov, 2018
Updated on: 19 Nov, 2018

By Rebecca Curley

Local Democracy Reporter

Losing migrant workers after Brexit will create a skills gap for businesses in Guildford, a councillor has warned.

Cllr David Bilbe (Con, Normandy), lead member for enterprise and economic development at Guildford Borough Council (GBC), said the full impact of Brexit is not yet known, but there was a level of uncertainty.

The council is talking to business owners and leaders about any potential impact – including with one company that is part of a European programme and has been told it cannot take part any more after Britain leaves the EU in March next year.

Speaking at GBC’s overview and scrutiny committee on Tuesday, November 13, during a member’s question session, Cllr Bilbe said they were concerned with what was going to happen with staffing businesses in Guildford.

Cllr David Bilbe

He said: “We are putting together a skills inventory with leading companies so we can understand where some of the sensitive spots are.

“The obvious ones are in hotels and restaurants and shops where we are dependent on migrant workers to do the kind of work they are doing today.

“And if we lose those people then we have got a gap in our skills base and we have got a potential gap in our ability to drive our economy forward. We are very concerned about that.”

He said if there is an opportunity to help with skills and recruitment then the council will be able to.

But Cllr Bilbe said most of the issues on recruitment depended on housing, transport and the traffic issues in the borough which has “very little to do with Brexit”.

He said the “story” of shops and restaurants closing in Guildford was not as “dire” as always portrayed.

He said a new strategy around retail in the borough was being formed. “We are trying to put forward a more positive perspective about what is happening in Guildford.”