A total of 77% said the referendum result had had little or no impact to date on their business. This is despite the predictions of an immediate meltdown in the economy and the fact that the majority (57%) of those polled had voted to remain within the EU.
The sample comprised of small businesses in the retail and hospitality sectors with an annual revenue of less than half a million pounds. Despite the fact that an estimated 442,000 EU migrants work in Britain’s restaurants and hotels, only 8% said that ‘access to workers from abroad’ was their biggest business concern.
Jacyn Heavens, CEO of Epos now, said: "It seems that UK small businesses are reflecting the rest of the economy. They are determined not to be phased by potential change and are carrying on as normal.
"Hotel, café and restaurant owners are obviously not too anxious about staffing problems post-Brexit. Whether this will change when and if rules on free movement are revoked remains to be seen.”
However, almost one-third (32%) did admit that a lack of clarity from the government on Brexit plans was their main worry. This was overshadowed by possible challenges when purchasing stock from abroad – cited by 42% as their major concern.
Only 13% said that the Brexit decision and subsequent uncertainty had changed their business plans completely.