Bray People

So we had a go at swimming’

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Wicklow is renowned – agrifood and tourism – may be at risk if a hard Brexit is imposed, and small enterprise­s may be particular­ly exposed.

“In our county, we have a number of small artisan producers whose first foray into the export market is likely to be the UK and Northern Ireland,” says Daly.

“Its proximity and lack of a language barrier make it a comfortabl­e choice, but the potential for significan­t food tariffs is clearly an issue for these companies.

“It’s not just about tariffs, it’s logistics too. Delays at customs could be catastroph­ic for a company dealing with a product with a short shelf life that’s sitting for a day or two to get through.

“Tourism is another big sector for Wicklow. Threats include barriers to the movement of people and increased transport costs, leading to a reduction in the number of UK visitors coming here, but this is in tandem with the rest of the country, not only Wicklow.

“On the positive side, in an effort to Brexit-proof your business, it helps to explore new markets, conduct internal reviews that can help you become as competitiv­e as possible, increase productivi­ty and become more innovative in what you do.

“These are all really good things and never a waste of time.”

 ??  ?? David Cox, managing director of Fragrances of Ireland in Kilmacanog­e
David Cox, managing director of Fragrances of Ireland in Kilmacanog­e
 ??  ?? Simon Lynch, co-founder of Wicklow Wolf Brewing Company
Simon Lynch, co-founder of Wicklow Wolf Brewing Company
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