Marketing industry bosses demand Brexit action plan

Marketing industry chiefs have thrown their weight behind a new campaign against the Government’s flagging Brexit negotiations by signing an open letter to Theresa May which contains a comprehensive list of demands amid warnings that they are losing patience with the lack of progress in the EU talks.
The letter is signed by 40 representatives from the Professional Business Services Council (PBSC), which includes marketing and advertising trade bodies the Advertising Association, the DMA and the IPA, as well as firms such as Deloitte, Accenture and KPMG.
It urges the Prime Minister to address the issues they say are essential to preserve the £188bn professional services industry with its 4.6 million jobs and “keep the wheels of the British economy turning”.
The signatories are demanding a number of assurances, including that they will still be able to recruit the best talent from overseas.
“The UK needs to get the right deal on professional and other services given our relative strengths and current competitive position,” the letter states.
The move follows warnings from firms including Airbus and BMW about the impact of Brexit on jobs and trade, which were dismissed by cabinet ministers including Jeremy Hunt and Liam Fox. Meanwhile Boris Johnson reportedly said “f**k business” when asked about industry concerns.
Stephen Woodford, chief executive of the AA, said: “Our advertising and marketing communications industry, which contributes over £120bn to GDP every year, is a vital and vibrant part of the UK’s professional business services sector and this is why we are supporting this letter from the PBSC.
“It is essential for our future that Brexit discussions and, ultimately, the post-Brexit agreement protect this jewel and enable further growth. Anything less will have damaging and long-lasting consequences on our economy and the wider society.”