A senior Scottish accountant has warned that the prospect of restrictions on EU citizens’ freedom of movement following the 23 June referendum could have a severe impact on Scotland’s ability to retain a skilled workforce.
Craig Vickery, head of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Scotland, called on the business community to highlight the impact that new immigration rules could have on the economy.
He said: “It is no secret that there is a shortage of skilled workers in many sectors and specialisms — particularly in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics related areas.
This challenge has been mitigated in part by access to skilled labour from other parts of the world, particularly from the EU. However, with the UK’s departure from the EU, the challenge to business of accessing highly skilled and specialist talent could be further exacerbated.
“There is also a risk that talent could leave — or be poached from — the UK, as we enter an extended period of limbo while the UK seeks to reinvent itself post-Brexit.
“Consultation with businesses and students indicates that they are much more willing to work globally than ever before; we saw a spike in enquiries from British citizens looking to live and work in Australia, New Zealand and Canada in the weeks that followed the vote.”