Local officials and business professionals are calling for people to find “opportunity” in leaving the EU.
Dorset marketing consultant Caron Khan has called for an entrepreneurial approach to Brexit.
“[Entrepreneurs] will find opportunity because of their positive approach to making a success of things,” said Ms Khan, who works with many business owners in the area.
“It’s our entrepreneurial attitude towards Brexit that will get the country through this, not a pessimistic attitude.”
The comments come after Parliament passed the Brexit bill on Monday, paving the way for the government to trigger Article 50 so the UK can leave the European Union.
The result of last year’s referendum to leave the EU has created much uncertainty regarding how it will affect the UK.
“make the best”
Green Party Councillor for Winton Simon Bull says, “There will be things that we’ll miss out on, but there’ll also be opportunities and we’ll make the most of those.”
“I voted to remain in the EU – I thought it was the better option for us – but the decision’s been made and there’s nothing stopping us coming out now, so we’ll make the best of what we’re left with.”
However he expressed his concern for how it will affect local services.
“There are obviously a lot of NHS services [in Dorset], and we employ a lot of staff from within the EU community,” he said.
“There are things such as that where we don’t really know how that’s going to pan out.”
Migrant workers in Bournemouth and Poole are mostly young (under 35), highly qualified and working in low-paid jobs in hospitality and catering, factories, care homes and administration – according to a 2010 review by the council.
However the review states the difficulty in accurately calculating the numbers of international migrants in Dorset.
Find out more about Parliament’s vote on Brexit
Find out more about the government’s policy on Brexit
