Walpole to host workshop focused on Brexit implications

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Jul 1, 2016

Walpole, an alliance of 170 of Britain’s finest luxury brands, is planning to host a member workshop dedicated to discussing the implications of Brexit and identifying key issues to campaign on.

In a post-referendum letter, the CEO of the organisation, Michelle Emmerson, said it remains vital to work together to ensure stability and collaboration.

“I know you will be working to understand the potential implications for your businesses. As we all know, we should find encouragement in the fact that British luxury goods and services are sought by customers from all around the world, whether they are bought here or as exported products. Europe is a big market, but by no means the only one. What’s more, it does not seem to be in anyone’s interests to abandon a single market in which goods move freely,” she said.

“Therefore, it is vital that we retain open access to the European market and throughout negotiations, we shall urge the government to fight to promote and protect the interests of the luxury industry - worth over £32 billion a year to the UK and employing 113,000 people across the UK.”

Walpole represents prominent brands such as Burberry, Jimmy Choo, Farfetch, Selfridges, Harrods, Thomas Pink and Temperly and McArthurGlen.

The date and location of the workshop are yet to be announced.