Kent and Medway: Making a Success of Brexit: A Sectoral Appraisal of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises and the Rural Economy

In December 2016 CEFEUS published its first report, entitled ‘Kent and Medway: Making a Success of Brexit’. It was launched at a reception in Westminster, hosted by Helen Whately, MP for Faversham and Mid Kent. The launch was attended by many of the individuals, organisations stakeholders who had contributed since May 2016 to the work of preparing the report. As we said at that time: “If we are to make a genuine success of Brexit for all our communities across Kent and Medway we must ensure we take fully into account the various concerns that lie behind the vote for Brexit”.

Based on the report’s positive reception from colleagues, policy makers and commentators, and with the ongoing support of the Centre for European Studies (CEFEUS) at Canterbury Christ Church University, the partners met again in January 2017 to reflect on the sector-specific work of the project to date, to take stock of events nationally and internationally related to Brexit, and to consider how best to take the work forward. There was strong and unanimous support for continuing the project to assess how the different businesses, communities and organisations of Kent and Medway could best make a success of Brexit.

This second report now looks in detail at the impacts, opportunities, 'asks' and advice arising from two key sectors: SMEs, and the Rural Economy.