In 2016, Morgan McKinley surveyed a cross section of the working population to assess their thoughts on the decision to leave the EU. Fast forward to the present day and Morgan McKinley has completed a follow-up survey to gauge the thoughts of the UK working population a year and a half on from the referendum.

1. THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION
OF BREXIT IN
2018

2. CONTENTS
TABLE OF
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
The most newsworthy word of recent years?
What are employers doing about Brexit in 2018?
No burning desire to abandon Blighty
A lack of confidence in the Government’s ability to manage Brexit
Should there be a 2nd referendum?
Only time will tell what Brexit holds for UK professionals
Let us know your thoughts…

3. THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF BREXIT IN 2018
01
Some months after the 2016 decision to leave the European Union was made, it
was agreed that the word “Brexit” should be added to the Oxford English dictionary.
Many believe it to be coined from the word Grexit, which was used to describe the
potential withdrawal of Greece from the Eurozone monetary union some years earlier.
Who would have thought that over 400 years on from when the dictionary was
first invented, its latest 6-letter addition would have such a profound impact on the
country, and undoubtedly, British history for years to come.
In the final few months of 2016, Morgan McKinley surveyed a cross section of the
working population to assess their thoughts on the decision to leave the EU. Of circa
5,000 individuals who completed the survey, 68% felt that the outcome was not the
right one for the UK.
Fast forward to the present day and Morgan McKinley has completed a follow up
survey to gauge the thoughts of the UK working population a year and a half on from
the referendum. This time, over 7,000 completed the survey, again encompassing
a range of professionals at all levels, from sectors including Banking and Financial
Services (36%), Professional Services (26%) and those in Commerce and Industry
(17%). The 21% of Others, ranged from the Public Sector, covering areas such as
Education, Health, the Civil Service and Charity/NFP, as well as other sectors including
Retail and Construction.
THE MOST NEWSWORTHY
WORD OF RECENT YEARS
Other 21%
Commerce &
Industry 17%
Professional
Services 26%
Banking &
Financial 36%
Despite a UK wide audience, 64% of respondents live in London or the South East.
The majority of the Others (16%) were in fact UK nationals, originally registered
with UK addresses, but have since relocated to live and work in the EU. As a result
of this, it is no surprise that 69% still feel that it was not the right decision to break
up the union with Europe. In fact, 77% of those were 25-34 year olds, although the
percentage fell as the age brackets increased.
Breakdown of respondents by sector

4. THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF BREXIT IN 2018
02
WHAT ARE EMPLOYERS DOING
ABOUT BREXIT IN 2018?
With only a few months having passed following the 2016 referendum, 48% said at
the time that their businesses had no intention of relocating abroad (either in parts or
in its entirety). When asked if they themselves would consider relocating, 38% would
not consider this at all.
Has your employer made any serious adjustments or plans to account for
the uncertainty, including relocation of parts of the business?
Yes 30%
Not sure 20%
No 50%
When surveyed in 2018, 50% stated that their employer had not made any
adjustments or plans to account for any uncertainty including relocation.
Of that group, 25% work in Commerce and Industry, 38% in Banking and Financial
Services, 36% in Professional Services and 1% in Other. The largest group to see their
businesses already executing contingency plans was within the Banking and Financial
Services community, of which 41% said plans were already in play.
0%
38%
25%
10%
20%
30%
40%
Banking &
Financial Services
Commerce &
Industry
Professional
Services
36%
Other
1%

5. THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF BREXIT IN 2018
03
NO BURNING DESIRE
TO ABANDON BLIGHTY
When asked about relocating to other jurisdictions, there was a 3% increase from
before in those rejecting this option (41%). Only 37% indicated they would move if
asked, with 22% unsure at this stage. As expected, the number of those not willing to
move abroad rose as the age groups increased. With regards to specific locations, USA
and Dublin ranked highest overall (18% each) in terms of preferable countries to move
to. Within the Banking community specifically, USA (18%) was preferred to Dublin
(16%). In the Commerce sector, 20% chose Dublin over the USA (17%) whilst within
Professional Services, 20% again chose Dublin over the USA (17%).
It is no secret that a number of European countries have been lobbying UK based
corporations to consider transferring their legal entities over. Interestingly, finance
specialists selected Luxembourg as their least favorite (5%), with Paris (10%) just
edging ahead of Frankfurt (9%), yet both were still behind AsiaPac (11%). Aside from
other suggested locations such as Canada, Middle East, Zurich and Italy, 54% of
Others simply referenced moving within the UK as their preferred choice over and
above relocating abroad.
Given the option, and assuming you are able to transfer with new
regulations, which international location would be preferable for a move?
US
Frankfurt
Paris
Madrid
Luxembourg
Amsterdam
Dublin
Asia-Pacific
Other
18%
8%
9%
7%
3%
10%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%
18%
10%
17%

6. THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF BREXIT IN 2018
04
A LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE
GOVERNMENT’S ABILITY TO MANAGE BREXIT
Interestingly, Morgan McKinley’s own survey showed that only 13% felt extremely
confident, whilst a majority of 87% had little or no confidence that the Government
was able to follow through with negotiations that will support a transition in favour
of the British people. Lord Kerr, who drafted Article 50, has stated previously that the
specifics of the EU treaty would allow the UK to change its mind up to the moment of
leaving.
Are you confident in the Government’s ability to follow through with
negotiations that will help the transition?
One individual taking part in the survey quoted “the whole run-up to Brexit was
rife with outright untruths and manipulation of the public. I feel the UK public is
absolutely entitled to another referendum on that basis, but the EU is well within its
rights to not accept the outcome. As an EEA national working in the UK, my future
position is very unsure, and as a multilingual professional working within a highly
international company based in the UK, Brexit could have devastating ramifications
for both employees and the future of the business.”
There are numerous examples of professionals already exiting the UK and returning
back to their home nations. Another said “I have already relocated due to losing faith
in the UK’s government to secure a deal that favours us citizens.”Yes 13%Not sure 19%
No 68%
“The whole run-up to Brexit was rife with outright untruths
and manipulation of the public. I feel the UK public is
absolutely entitled to another referendum on that basis,
but the EU is well within its rights to not accept the outcome.
As an EEA national working in the UK, my future position
is very unsure, and as a multilingual professional working
within a highly international company based in the UK,
Brexit could have devastating ramifications for both
employees and the future of the business.”
“
“

7. THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF BREXIT IN 2018
05
SHOULD THERE BE
A 2ND REFERENDUM?
When asked if there should be the possibility of a second referendum, 58% voted
in favour of this. All age groups indicated that they felt more inclined for another
vote to determine the UK’s future. One person quoted “a second referendum is vital.
The first referendum was run like a general election, with all the lies, duplicity and
false promises. But general elections come around every few years so wrongs can be
righted, or stances can be changed. Brexit is a huge multi-generational decision that
will affect Great Britain for the next 50 years. It deserves a final and informed vote by
the people.”
Do you think the UK should be entitled to another referendum?
Someone who can set about offering this option is the UK’s Prime Minister, Theresa
May. Many speculate whether or not a follow up referendum to give voters a final say
on the EU exit package is even feasible. But polls already show that a number of voters
would prefer the continuation of the EU membership on the basis that their own
reasonable expectations for Brexit have not yet been realised.
Not sure 9%
No 33%
Yes 58%

8. THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF BREXIT IN 2018
06
ONLY TIME WILL TELL WHAT
BREXIT HOLDS FOR UK PROFESSIONALS
Whatever your stance on Brexit, the results show an even mix of opinions in relation
to the future of post-Brexit Britain. 45% have concerns about their own future, whilst
46% don’t think it will be a problem. This was evident in the comments offered, where
there is divided opinion on whether the UK should leave the EU, and how the UK will
perform in the global landscape should a ‘hard’ or ‘soft’ Brexit be applied. Only a
relatively small proportion of of those surveyed were not sure of the outcome (9%).
Are you concerned for the future of your position or company in
post-Brexit Britain?
It is evident that 20 months on from the vote, there is still no clear strategy around
Brexit. As a result, many businesses are finding it difficult to plan ahead and bring
on additional staff in case they overhire or face challenges further down the line by
employing EU citizens. Smaller businesses are unified in saying they are very “worried
as a ‘hard’ brexit will result in insurmountable additional costs and requirements for
firms, which in effect would mean many businesses may fold.”
More and more EU residents are also returning to their home nations, which is in turn
sparking a brain drain in certain sectors. One respondent added “I have accepted a
job in the continent to skip uncertainty and to avoid facing recession in UK. I’ll move
abroad this March as I wanted to be part of the first wave of Brexodus to be able
to pick the best opportunity in the continent where the EU economy is growing.
Extremely sad to leave my happy life in London, but that was the only wise move to
do now.”
On the flip side, however, others highlight more positive sentiments, believing the
country will prosper as “the UK economy is far more robust and resilient than many
people realise. So in the long term, UK PLC will thrive outside of the EU.” Similarly,
another wrote “the nation voted for Brexit, so we should get on with it. Britain will
once again thrive as we will have the ability to trade globally and not stay strangled to
a failing, undemocratic European Union.”
Either way, we are in for a long and drawn out process that could generate a few more
new words for the Oxford English dictionary.
Yes 45%Not sure 9%
No 46%

9. THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF BREXIT IN 2018
HAKAN ENVER
MANAGING DIRECTOR
T: +44 20 7092 0105
E: henver@morganmckinley.co.uk
SURVEY DETAILS
Between 18.01.18 and 27.02.18, the survey was completed by 7,398
individuals that live or have lived in the UK. Questions were answered
online with an 89% completion rate when the survey was sent via email
to Morgan McKinley’s database that consists of both employers and
employees across various professional sectors.
LET US KNOW
YOUR THOUGHTS…
07

10. THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF BREXIT IN 2018
CONTACT US
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