Brexit will lead to brighter future, insists Shrewsbury businessman

Christopher Greenough, commercial director of Salop Design and Engineering, said Britain needed to unite behind the Prime Minister.

He claims the exit from the EU will allow businesses to open up new trade links world wide and will be positive for the manufacturing industry.

It comes as Theresa May formally triggered the two-year process of UK withdrawal from the European Union in what she declared was "an historic moment from which there can be no turning back".

The six-page letter, signed in ink by the Prime Minister, was hand-delivered to European Council president Donald Tusk in his Brussels office by UK permanent representative Sir Tim Barrow.

The European Council president confirmed he would today set out his draft negotiating guidelines ahead of an extraordinary summit of the remaining 27 leaders on April 29, which is expected to pave the way for talks to begin in earnest in May.

Setting out Britain's negotiating position in her letter, Mrs May made clear she wants a new trade deal to be negotiated at the same time as the "divorce deal" extricating the UK from its 44-year membership.

Mr Greenough, of Salop Design, which manufactures pressings and assemblies and is based in Shrewsbury, said he was optimistic about the future.

He said he was keen to see trade opened with more countries outside of the EU.

He said: "With the Government formally starting the Brexit process today, I am confident that we will end up with a brighter, better United Kingdom.

"There are opportunities to look to the future and look to trade partners outside the EU region.

"There are many countries that look to the UK and our product as world class, and the made in Britain brand is something that we can build upon.

"There are uncertain times ahead, but as a manufacturer in Shropshire, I will continue to be optimistic and look to support this country.

"We need to unite behind the Prime Minister, and make sure the rest of the World knows that Britain is open for business.

"Let’s look to our strengths, which is a strong manufacturing base, and with further investment in the steel industry, the supply chain and skills provision, we can continue to push the UK economy to bigger and better things."

Mr Greenough said he thought that Brexit was likely to have little direct impact on Salop Design in the short term.

He said: "10 per cent of our exports go to Germany and the rest go to America.

"Mr Trump is saying he is keen to make a trade deal and we should be front of the queue.

"The biggest impact is the rate of the pound, if you import supplies from abroad that can make things more expensive, but if you export it is good news.

"All our steel comes from the UK so for Salop Leisure it is good news."

Mr Greenough said that the company currently doesn't employ any EU nationals, but said the door will not be closed to people from countries in the union who want to work in Britain.

He said: "We still need those skills. If people have those skills and want to come here and work, we need them to help to grow our business.

"There are lots of opportunities for us world wide, we won't turn our back on the EU and I'm sure the Government won't, but we want the best deal."