“Radio silence” on Brexit is creating “vacuum of vulnerability”, says recruitment guru

The Managing Director of the UK’s oldest estate agent recruitment consultancy has called for the Government to give more information about what will happen to European Union employees after Brexit.

His comments follow a recent survey by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), which found that two fifths of UK businesses employing staff from the EU say their EU employees have expressed concern about their future residency status following the referendum. Research also found that five per cent of businesses have seen EU employees resign following the Brexit vote, while ten per cent said their EU employees have stated their intention to leave the UK.

Property Personnel Managing Director Anthony Hesse said: “It’s all very well the Government wanting to keep its negotiating cards close to its chest, but the lack of information about Brexit is creating a vacuum of vulnerability. Decisions still need to be made out there, so both employers and employees need to have some idea about what is going to happen in the future, in order that they can plan accordingly. But at the moment, the radio silence is deafening.”

The British government has repeatedly attempted to reassure the three million EU nationals currently living in the UK, but it has not ruled out the possibility of deportations in the future. Anthony Hesse said that the issues around the status of existing EU nationals, the nature of new appointments from the 27 other EU countries during the transition period, and future immigration policy all need to be addressed.

He explained: “We need rapid clarity on three issues – confirmation about the status of EU nationals currently living here who have been left in limbo, clarification on how new EU hires will be treated, and an indication about future immigration policy.

“We still have a significant skills gap in the UK. So we need an immigration policy that allows businesses to plug skills shortages with employees from the EU, with as little bureaucracy or cost, and as few barriers as possible.

“This is more than a simple matter of individuals not knowing where they stand. This is about long-term policy making for businesses, including estate agents up and down the country, who are unable to make important decisions because the information required is simply not there.

“The economy may have appeared to have bounced-back faster than expected after the referendum result – but as the uncertainty drags on, companies and individuals are increasingly at risk.”

Blog post by: Property Publicity – Eric Dixon eric@propertypublicity.co.uk

Christopher Walkey

Founder of Estate Agent Networking. Internationally invited speaker on how to build online target audiences using Social Media. Writes about UK property prices, housing, politics and affordable homes.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Rental supply climbs 15% despite landlord uncertainty

The latest research from Dwelly has found that, despite what has been an incredibly uncertain year for landlords – marked by political back and forth over the Renters’ Rights Act, its eventual approval, and the additional 2% tax hit delivered in last week’s Autumn Budget – there are currently 15% more rental homes available to…
Read More
Breaking News

FCA sets out plans to help build mortgage market of the future

First-time buyers and the self-employed could get a step-up onto the housing ladder, under new plans from the FCA. Its priorities for reforms to the mortgage market also include helping homeowners unlock housing wealth for a more comfortable later life. The FCA will focus on 4 areas: First-time buyers & underserved consumers: Simplifying mortgage rules…
Read More
Breaking News

UK housing market modest growth expected in 2026

UK housing market steady in 2025, modest growth expected in 2026 • UK housing market performed broadly in line with expectations over the last year • Limited annual growth of +0.7% lifted the average property price to a new high of £299,892 • Market activity was influenced by stamp duty changes but overall remained close…
Read More
Breaking News

Cladding remediation work stalls – when will we realise that this is a matter of life and death?

The most recent government data shows that the UK is monitoring more high-rise buildings with potential cladding risks than ever before, yet fewer are actually entering remediation. Property Inspect UK is now warning that the widening gap between identification and action reflects a persistent structural issue in how remediation is managed, verified, and delivered. As…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

3 Top-Rated Garages in Northampton

Car maintenance can be stressful if you are unsure which garage to trust to deliver precise and timely service. Choosing a garage that handles repairs carefully ensures your vehicle remains safe and performs reliably on the road. In Northampton, several garages stand out for their consistent service quality and attentive customer care. They provide support…
Read More
Breaking News

Slight easing in affordability pressures helps underpin buyer demand

Housing market activity remained resilient in 2025 House price growth expected to be in the 2% to 4% range in 2026 Looking back at the housing market in 2025 and what we can expect in 2026, Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s Chief Economist, comments: “The word that best describes the housing market in 2025 is ‘resilient’. Even…
Read More