Re-join or not: Will business benefit if the UK re-joined the EU?

Yes, it absolutely would, as we would immediately benefit from all the pre existing global trade agreements, not to mention the removal of the new Customs barriers that have been created since leaving.

Add in the access to various EU subsidies that we once enjoyed - which evidently have had nothing planned with which they could be replaced - and it's really quite as plain as the nose on your face.

The ones who will want to avoid it for any reason orher than not wanting to admit they were wrong, are the same very few individuals who made an absolute fortune out of selling the UK down the river in the first place.

Leaving has been a fucking shambles, but re-joining the EU - you must be joking? It's tempting to think that the grass is always greener on the other side. While some argue that businesses thrived during our time in the EU, let's not forget the bureaucratic red tape and the constraints on forging new trade deals outside the bloc. Some of the latest trade deals we've been doing are really exciting and will drive innovation and opportunity for those who seek it.

The UK, as a sovereign nation, now has the agility to adapt to global economic shifts, something that a large entity like the EU might struggle with. Moreover, our unique identity and brand as 'Britain' is a huge selling point in global markets. While there are undeniable short-term challenges, the long-term potential outside the EU might just be the competitive edge businesses need.

As a small jeweller I have had to stop sending to the majority of the EU since Brexit. Due to not being part of a reciprocal agreement for hallmarking it’s made selling to my closest market almost impossible. Rejoining would mean that I can not only restart sales, but also easily visit mainland Europe for trade shows.

Paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork. One thing that Brexit delivered was copious quantities of paperwork, albeit a lot are actually electronic forms. Businesses of all sizes up and down the country now have to fill in, often numerous, forms for transactions that were previously simple. This has introduced costs in terms of time to complete the paperwork but also uncertainty resulting in an increased need for legal advice and even more costs.

Many businesses are also finding it difficult to find skilled staff, with immigration costs now having to be factored in. This in turn is putting increased pressure on an immigration system that appears to be unable to service the number of applications from asylum seekers.

So should we re-visit the Brexit decision? Only if we want improve productivity and go back to doing the same trade and business without additional cost and paperwork. However, currently law firms across Europe are certainly happy with the additional work!

Rejoining would eliminate trade barriers that have caused some businesses to put a halt on exports completely. Simplifying documentation requirements and customs procedures would remove additional time and costs, whilst an easing of travel and immigration rules could potentially alleviate the ongoing staffing and skills crises that so many are faced with at present.

EU membership also presents businesses with excellent opportunities to be part of research, innovation, and technological development projects through its funding programs. Rejoining would allow British businesses to access those resources and the generous pots of money they tend to come with!

Likewise, although the UK still attracts foreign investment, several high-profile businesses have cited Brexit as their main driver for pulling out of the UK or investing in neighbouring EU countries. Returning to the single market would certainly make the UK a more attractive proposition for overseas investors.

To set some context, I was a strong Remain campaigner before the referendum, but I am also a democrat, so when the vote went the other way, and we voted to leave the EU, I accepted the majority decision.

I think even the strongest Brexit supporter would agree that there are many areas where the promised Brexit bonus has not materialised (although I accept some of that is down to the pandemic delaying/suspending normal life).

Nonetheless, I personally don't (and I don't sense that any of my business contacts do either) have any desire for us to rejoin the EU. Why? because we have just been through years of business and the economy being held back by red tape and bureaucratic adjustment. If we go back in, it's not going to be a case of "Welcome Back" and everything instantly goes back to pre-Brexit days - we will be the new kid on the block, and there will be lots of new changes for business to navigate, why oh why would anyone want that?

I assume the people who think rejoining the EU is a panacea for our current economic, labour and immigration problems believe we'll go back in on the same terms as when we left. We won't. The EU will undoubtedly insist on higher financial contributions and more favourable terms for EU citizens wishing to live and work in the UK.
Having gone through the pain of adapting to trade with the EU under the terms of the UK/EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement it would be madness to reverse it so soon. Outside of Europe, we are joining CPTPP which is a great opportunity, we've signed several trade agreements with US states and we're a long way down the road to negotiating an agreement with India. These are all things the EU would like to have done but can't because they're hamstrung by the number of conflicting interests they have to reconcile.
I'm not saying we should never rejoin but within 10 years is too soon, 15 - 20 will give us the information we need to evaluate properly.

Rejoin! Even if its just so we get cheaper holidays again! Seriously though, cutting the red tape for trading between the UK and EU will help many industries and help our economy stabilise. It will also bring the cost of food and utilities down and create a more competitive market for so many more businesses.

Yes, the UK would benefit from rejoining the EU. We've no decent trade deals outside the bloc and the NHS isn't being funded by the "bus money" Nigel and Boris promised us would sort everything out!
Leavers kept claiming EU rules were stopping us from doing better business abroad. All I've seen so far is more red tape and not being able to sell to EU customers as easily as before, plus my materials increasing in price because they're now classed as imports.
Is this "taking back control"? I'd say it's giving politicians the right to move money and dodge EU financial laws, while the common folk is left poorer and angrier. We're not in control, we're adrift and pretending to be Great, all the while racking up debt and (still) blaming the EU for our bad choices...