Brexit WORDS CHRIS MILLER W hen it became clear after the 2016 referendum that the UK was going to leave the European Union, the only thing everyone knew was that no one knew what was going to happen next. And the months of wrangling that followed did very little to make the situation clearer. Things were going to change, sure - but when? And how? But while it's still unclear what form the relationship between the UK and the EU will ultimately take, there are certain things we do know that can help SMEs prepare for the change in circumstances. The government has set up an online guide (gov.uk/business-uk-leaving-eu) to help you make sure you're taking the appropriate steps to deal with the situation. The websites of other bodies, such as the National Federation of Self Employed and Small Businesses (fsb. org.uk) and the British Chambers of Commerce (britishchambers.org.uk), also offer advice, and there is always the option of bringing in a consultant to ensure you're doing the right things. Counting the cost The aspect that will naturally concern most companies is the possibility of rising 45http://www.gov.uk/business-uk-leaving-eu http://www.org.uk http://britishchambers.org.uk