Britain’s brightest: “We must stay in the EU”

In June British voters will be asked to decide to leave or stay in the European Union. Politicians are divided and the debate is already hotting up.

The outcome will have a huge impact on businesses of all sizes up and down the country. Earlier this week 36 of our biggest companies threw their weight behind the campaign to stay a member.

Now startup businesses have joined the movement, with 81% saying backing Britain being a part of the European Union according to a new survey by digital lobby group Coadec.

Guy Levin, Executive Director at Coadec explains why startups overwhelming back staying in the union:

“Startups don’t think the EU is perfect, but have clearly said that the UK is better off remaining inside the European Union, than out on our own.”

Tech businesses want to stay part of the EU

Coadec’s survey sample size of company founders and workers at small businesses was small, but represents a growing trend of innovative leaders backing the campaign stay in the European Union.

The findings are also in line with recent surveys by Tech London Advocates, which found that 87% wanted to remain; and from techUK who found that 71% of members wanted to remain in a reformed EU.

Key issues

Respondents who said the UK should remain said access to the single market, talent, having ‘a seat at the table’ and stability were key issues for them. For those who preferred to leave the union, they outlined sovereignty and red tape as their biggest issues.

Next steps

With the results from the survey now in, Guy Levin says Coadec will now push for the UK to remain part of the EU:

“The UK is the best place in Europe to launch and grow a digital startup, we should not put that at risk.”