A leading business group has urged the UK Government to pursue unfettered access to mainland European markets after Brexit.
And its Aberdeen-based Scottish policy convener wants a guarantee that EU citizens working in this country will not be forced to leave after Britain quits the EU.
The demands are from the Federation of Small Business (FSB) and come just a week after Prime Minister Theresa May said staying in the EU’s single market was not an option.
An FSB survey found nearly one-third of members (32%) were involved in overseas trade either as exporters or importers. The vast majority of these were involved in trade with the single market.
As a result of last June’s Brexit vote, 29% of exporters said they expected a decline in overseas sales. One in five expected an increase.
Among importers, 31% forecast a decrease in their overseas trade and 7% predicted an increase.
FSB national chairman Mike Cherry said: “Small business exports have been on the rise since the referendum, with the lower value of the pound making UK goods and services more competitive.
“As the UK leaves the single market any new agreement must maintain the current ease of trade with the EU and not lead to additional administrative or financial burdens.”
The UK-wide survey showed about nine in 10 (92%) exporters and nearly as many importers (85%) currently trade with the EU single market.
It also revealed more than one in four (26%) of Scotland’s smaller employers have at least one non-UK EU citizen among their workforce.
Andy Willox, FSB’s Scottish policy convenor, said: “UK business exports have been on the rise since the referendum on Europe, powered by the low value of pound.
“Governments in Edinburgh and London have bold ambitions to increase export volumes and values. Whatever lies ahead, we cannot see new administrative or financial burdens placed on firms which trade internationally.
“As a minimum, FSB wants the UK Government to guarantee that EU citizens currently in the Scottish workforce – whether as employees or running their own business – have the right to stay.”