It’s an understatement to say that UK plc has some interesting times ahead. Brexit just adds to the mix of competing influences on international trade– globalisation, protectionism, global warming, artificial intelligence/machine learning, super powers and super businesses and so on. It’s either exciting for UK businesses or alarming – just depends on what you read. Are we “entering an exciting new era of trade and foreign relationships” (Dr Liam Fox”), or are we looking at a future that might involve 30 miles queues of lorries trying to get through the Port Of Dover (Today’s Guardian)?

My own interest is in SMEs, and how they address challenge and opportunity. While I was a “Remainer”, though a sceptic in terms of the effectiveness of the EU economic model, I fundamentally believe that whatever Brexit brings it’s just one of a whole host of factors that will impact on the way we trade. It will always remain the case that businesses that grab opportunities and take inevitable hurdles in their stride will probably be successful. In every recession after all, there are almost as many winners as losers. It’s going to be a good time for international tax and customs specialists at the very least.

So how to “win” at international trade going forward? This Thursday (from 5.45pm) why not join our debate, at Kennington Oval, that focuses on how the UK’s SMEs might need to adapt going forward – the opportunities and threats that MIGHT be posed by Brexit. We have leading international trade expert, Dr Rebecca Harding, giving a talk entitled “Can the UK ever replace its trade with Europe?”, and will also have the team from the Department of International trade responding to questions.  To help the evening along, we will also be laying on some free drinks and canapes!