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38pc think leaving EU will hurt UK logistics industry: poll

ONLY one in three representatives within the UK logistics and materials-handling sector believe Britain leaving the EU would be good for their businesses, according to an IMHX Business Survey taken ahead of the vote to exit the European Union.

Fewer than one in five respondents believe the UK leaving the European Union would result in increased growth for the UK logistics business, Lloyd's Loading List reported.

When asked, 'What do you believe would be the best outcome for the business you work for" 49 per cent of respondents said the UK should remain in the EU, while only 35 per cent said it should exit. The remaining 16 per cent were 'unsure" at the time of the survey, conducted in April.

There is considerable uncertainty among respondents on how the UK leaving the EU would affect the future of the UK logistics industry, although 38 per cent think that leaving could have a somewhat negative or extremely negative impact on the businesses they work for, while one-third do not feel there would be any effect.

Only 19 per cent of respondents believe it would result in increased growth for the UK logistics business that they work for.

In terms of how the UK leaving the EU could impact growth within UK business in general, 22 per cent feel that business could contract, compared with 19 per cent who feel that it may increase growth, and a similar proportion don't know. The largest proportion of respondents (39 per cent), however, feel that there would be no impact on business growth within the wider economy.

Finally, 38 per cent say that their organisations employ migrant workers. Of these, 40 per cent are concerned that if the UK were to leave the EU it would be more difficult to recruit and retain employees. However, a similar proportion (39 per cent) feel there would be no impact.