UK businesses report mixed Brexit impact a decade after the vote

A survey of 500 mid‑market UK companies with revenues between £10 million and £500 million found that opinions on Brexit's impact remain divided ten years on. While 38 % say the outcome has been better than expected and 36 % say it has matched expectations, 26 % view it as worse than anticipated, leading to an overall split where 46 % describe the effect as negative and 54 % as positive. Respondents highlight regulatory complexity and compliance, especially in construction and manufacturing, as the biggest challenges, alongside skills shortages in trade and EU‑regulation expertise.

Parallel accounts from two Nottingham brothers who run a commercial‑vehicles firm and a logistics company illustrate the same mixed sentiment. Both express disappointment: the pro‑Leave brother laments unmet promises of deregulation and investment, while the anti‑Leave brother notes increased trade complications but also a growth opportunity in customs services. Their experience reflects broader national ambivalence, with recent polls showing a majority now believing the Brexit decision was mistaken.