EU referendum: Almost 10,000 European staff working in Shropshire

Figures from Adecco Group and the Social Market Foundation have highlighted the reliance on workers from the European Union, especially in manufacturing, accommodation and food services.

Around 127,000 people in Shropshire and 72,000 in Telford & Wrekin are in employment, with the two authorities home to 19,500 and 7,900 self-employed people respectively. With the the Adecco study revealing that five per cent of employees in the West Midlands are from the EU, that suggests that there are almost 10,000 workers from the continent currently employed by county businesses.

The recruiter warned that the findings raise "serious questions" about the impact of Brexit on the workforce.

Richard Sheehan, chief executive of Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "We have a significant number of companies who employ European nationals who are adding value to their business.

"Any detachment from the EU would may indeed impact on that situation in the future. That would have a knock-on effect for the Shropshire economy.

"However, many very successful countries do welcome migrant workers through visas and other schemes, where they are able to recruit the skills that are required for the growth in specific sectors and specific countries.

"A solution is there should it become necessary to change our strategy towards the recruitment of European workers."

He added: "Whatever the outcome of the vote, should there be a significant change there will be a two-year window where processes will be put in place to accommodate any change."

The NFU has already warned that the farming sector faces a shortfall in seasonal workers.

"Horticulture contributes £3 billion to the UK's economy and employs around 37,000 people in England alone," said NFU chairman Meurig Raymond at the time.

"However, a further 40,819 seasonal workers are needed every year in England to help grow, harvest and pack the produce.

"Harvests, with insufficient seasonal labour, lead to British crops remaining unpicked, businesses facing massive losses, and retailers being forced to fill shelves with imported produce."

The study found that EU employees are generally educated to a higher level than UK-born staff, with only 15 per cent having left formal education before the age of 17 compared with 44 per cent of those born in this country.

There are currently 1.6 million EU workers employed in the public or private sectors, making up six per cent of all UK employees, said the report.

EU workers are employed in a range of sectors in the county, including the crucial tourism industry.

Wayne Jenson, general manager at The Buckatree Hall Hotel in Wellington, said: "We have a number of EU workers here at The Buckatree in various roles including cleaners, reception and bar staff and restaurant staff.

"They are from Latvia, Poland and Italy and are extremely hardworking members of the team. Their work ethic means all jobs are done to the best of their ability and their friendly nature and their ambition to impress and therefore succeed in their role means they are extremely popular with customers."

He added: "Workers from other countries also add strength to the hotel when we have visitors from other countries as they may share the same language and be able to share knowledge about the area without any language barriers.

"Very often workers from other countries are used to working throughout the week so therefore split shifts and weekend hours, which are an important part of the work here due to the tourism industry, suits them and allows them the flexibility for such things as child care."

Adam Hawkins, managing director of the Adecco Group, said: "Uncertainty is bad for business, particularly those looking to hire and invest in the future. The recruitment industry has seen a significant slowdown in the number of businesses looking to hire permanent staff as we draw nearer to the referendum.

"Any change to the UK's relationship with the EU could hinder UK businesses' ability to attract the workforce needed for our industries."

Andrew Brodie, HR and communications director at Telford-based chicken company Faccenda, added: "Like all businesses, we are reliant upon skilled, motivated and reliable employees, regardless of where they come from.

"Every year new colleagues join us from various sources including apprentices and graduates from across the UK, and student placements in the communities we operate."