Last week, we conducted two online discussion groups to explore the Brexit-related views of senior decision-makers in small businesses (with 1-50 employees) and medium sized organisations (250-999 employees). Participants were chosen from a spread of different industries, sectors, and views of Brexit - both in terms of how they voted and how they think the result has affected their business.
Small businesses (1-50 staff)
It was clear that small businesses had, to varying extents, been affected the result of the vote. Participants felt that the outcome of the referendum had created uncertainty and that this uncertainty had led to a slow-down in custom.
Perhaps as a result of this, there was a strong desire to set the wheels of Brexit in motion, even among those who voted Remain. They felt that Article 50 should be triggered as soon as possible, as they thought that providing some certainty about timescales might help the markets to recover.
This sense of uncertainty also seems to have resulted in many of them to exploring other avenues in order to keep their businesses successful. For example, those who feel business closer to home has dried up are reaching out to markets further afield, in anticipation of Brexit impacting trade with the EU.
I have changed our focus and am looking to the rest of the x number of billion people who don't reside in the EU - Male, Leave, 55 Yorks
For others there is a sense that a 'staggered' approach to Brexit may provide an opportunity to plan strategically for the future. When we asked participants if they had foregone marketing or publicity activities since June, many said the opposite was true and that they were actually ramping-up this activity - speculating to accumulate in an uncertain business landscape.
With this in mind, when the group talked about the next two years, they painted a more optimistic picture for their business. For some - particularly Leave voters - the most difficult period of readjustment was already out of the way. Once they know what Brexit will look like and when it will happen, they look forward to the future.
I work throughout Europe. My favourite comment was off a German "it looks like you Brits are going to liberate Europe for a third time" - Male, leave, 44, North West
But despite this mild optimism, no one believed that small businesses are Brexit-proof. Being able to adapt was paramount, both in terms of what they offer to customers and what new markets offer to them.
...we have had to be very careful with the pricing of some of our services as the majority of our clients do at least some business with the EU - Male, Remain, 31, London
In discussing the ideal form of Brexit there was a lack of consensus and opinion was, curiously, not necessarily split by voting behaviour. Some Leave voters talked about a personal preference for a 'hard' Brexit - with no access to the single market and being out of the customs union. However, they conceded that a 'softer' Brexit, with access to the single market, may be beneficial for their business.
Medium-sized businesses (250-999 staff)
Amongst senior decision-makers in medium sized businesses, there was also a desire to get on with Brexit. There was a feeling - even amongst those who voted Remain - that the uncertainty around Brexit was destructive and that clarity around timings and arrangements for leaving the EU would temper some of this.
There was limited appetite for a fresh general election, delaying invoking Article 50, or anything that might have an impact on the UK's inevitable departure from the EU. However, there was measured support for parliamentary involvement when it comes to the terms of the negotiation.
The decision-makers had a sense that companies of this size are more resilient than smaller companies, and better able to absorb any impact on orders or revenue. Many admitted that they have postponed decisions on investments and pay and bonuses until either next year or even further into the future - when they hoped there would be more certainty around Britain's trading status and our relationship with Europe.
Internally we are cutting back but externally saying everything will be OK. I hear a lot of similar preparatory steps being taken elsewhere. Hiring freeze is a clear impact on the ground and CAPEX has ground to a halt." - Male, Remain, 49, Scotland
While medium sized businesses share anxiety about the sense of uncertainty, where they differed from decision makers in small business is that many felt that a Brexit 'crunch' had not yet hit their organisations. This group believed it may not be until next year that it does so and that the two years before Brexit (2017-19) were likely to be more economically perilous than the six months since the referendum vote.
All the businesses I deal with are moving much more cautiously and keeping plans low-key. Major investments in R&D and things like that are an only-if-we-must - Male, Remain, 72, East
Decision-makers in medium-sized businesses did not feel that their organisations had sufficiently recovered yet from the last economic downturn. Many reported a long-term hangover from the recession, implementing pay freezes and still acting cautiously, particularly when it comes to recruitment.
For some, streamlining resources to help maximise their staff's potential was preferred to hiring new staff. But there was equally an indication that Brexit is providing medium-sized companies with an excuse to be less competitive with pay.
Overheads may increase slightly as the cost of IT imports has rising in recent months. Recruitment costs may actually fall as we can get away with paying less in this climate. - Male, Remain, 35, West Mids
As with small business owners, there was no consensus over the preferred type of Brexit. Some Remain voters advocated a 'hard' Brexit as they believed "playing hardball" would make the UK look resolute as we sit at the negotiation table.
I think a hard Brexit will show to the world that we are a strong country. There will be more investments and more companies wanting to invest here, therefore it can only help the country and us. - Female, Leave, 40, London
The future
Overall, both groups could be characterised as expressing uncertainty with a tinge of cautious optimism. Irrespective of how they voted, there was a desire throughout the decision-makers we spoke to in small and medium-sized businesses to seek the best deal for Britain. This also helped them to see Brexit through a more optimistic lens - viewing it as a chance to renegotiate trading terms and re-aligning our standing as a nation, despite the short-term difficulties that first may have to be endured.