Boxarr featured in Bloomberg's 'On Brexit's Front Lines' series
Bristol-based ADS member Boxarr, has recently been chosen by Bloomberg News as one of just four diverse companies serving to help uncover the real-life impact Brexit may have on British businesses, with Boxarr selected as the 'Ambitious Startup'. Bloomberg's series of stories on the four companies aims to follow them throughout the entire two-year Article 50 Brexit negotiation process, during which the UK will depart the EU and enter a new relationship with its most significant trading partners.
Boxarr develops software for complex engineering and manufacturing projects, helping engineers visualise, design and build aircraft and ships, providing solutions for companies such as Airbus SE, Safran SA, Boeing Co. and Rolls-Royce Plc, from its home next to the River Avon in Bristol.
As part of its 'On Brexit’s Front Lines' series, the initial Bloomberg focus on Boxarr - entitled 'Britain Needs Companies Like This. Brexit May Scare Them Off' - highlighted the fact that 'Boxarr Ltd. is exactly the kind of brainy exporter that UK politicians of all stripes say they want to encourage'.
Although Boxarr's Chief Executive Officer Alasdair Pettigrew (right) says in the article that Brexit may present opportunities, he also voices real concerns about access to labour and lenders, as Theresa May's Brexit approach could place stringent rules on EU citizens who currently work freely in the UK and dampen investment, with any consequential reduction in talent and capital possibly forcing him to consider relocating outside Britain to realise the company's global ambitions.
In the piece the Mr Pettigrew said: “Boxarr is going to be a global titan of technology. I’d love to put UK in front of that but it’s not a prerequisite. The most important thing is that our growth is not inhibited in any way, so the politicians have to make sure the environment is healthy for business."
He stresses that although Boxarr wants to make Brexit work, it has many options should it not. He told ADVANCE Online
: "In summary, I see Brexit as presenting both significant opportunity and risk for Boxarr. I am looking to the politicians to establish an environment that will be conducive to our mission of growing Boxarr to be a world-class tech business."