His comments come after a snap survey of recruitment intentions carried out by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) which suggested that almost half of members (48%) believe it’s ‘too early to tell’ what impact Brexit will have on the sector.
Property Personnel MD Anthony Hesse said:
“After a historic decision like this, hasty knee-jerk responses are the last thing the industry needs. It’s important that UK estate agents don’t feel bounced into taking decisions with long-term impacts they may live to regret.
“Brexit is more of a process than an event – so the immediate impact will be limited, because any major changes will take some time. As a result, employers need to hold their nerve and consider any next steps carefully.”
But Anthony Hesse said he was concerned by another aspect of the CIPD survey, which indicated that 54% of members still don’t have a post-Brexit plan in place, and only 26% of respondents were actively developing one.
He explained: “Issues such as employment law, immigration and the ability of employers to bring the right skills they need into their business were central themes of the EU referendum campaigns – so estate agents need to plan accordingly.
“It’s important to remember that our existing labour market already strikes a good balance between providing flexibility for employers and employment rights for workers. Currently, employers can bring in skilled workers from outside the UK to help support business growth and address labour shortages. It’s absolutely crucial that any renegotiation of our relationship with the EU takes this into account.
“Ultimately, we need to ensure that UK estate agents continue to recruit the best people to fill the jobs available. Access to the right talent is absolutely vital to ensure sustainable growth and prosperity – not only for the sector, but the country.”
