05/09/2016 Inside Out West Midlands

It's great to be back with a special programme tonight looking

at the impact of the Brexit vote here in the Midlands, for farming,

We don't ask for any favours, all we really want is access

to the biggest single market community in the world.

Who'll pick our summer crops if fewer EU workers

If you're sitting on the fringes of Eastern Europe, you will probably

choose to stay within Germany or Italy rather than

And we'll also be finding out why Claire has packed up and left

for Poland to make sure she's staying in the EU.

It doesn't actually feel like I'm going.

I think because I haven't had too much time to prepare,

I'm going and it's just hitting me that I'm

I'm Ayo Akinwolere with surprising stories from right

This is Bromyard in Herefordshire, at the heart of apple and fruit

growing country and as far from our big cities as you can get.

But the Brexit vote here mirrored that across the Midlands -

That made us the most strongly Brexit region in the country.

Mary Rhodes reports on why opinion is divided in the pottery industry.

From household staples such as Denbeigh to brands

including Wedgwood - Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire has

And in the past, most people around here will at least have known

someone down the years to work in the industry.

ARCHIVE: Stoke-on-Trent, renowned as the wild's

It's beaten the odds and new competition to survive,

The ceramics industry might not be the powerhouse it once was, but it

still employs 20,000 people in the UK, and its products

are known around the world for their quality.

And half of the UK's ceramic exports are to Europe.

That's worth a quarter of a billion pounds a year to the UK

economy, with Stoke and Staffordshire at its centre.

When it came to June's EU referendum though, more people

here than almost anywhere else in the Midlands voted

But was that the right result for the pottery industry?

We're exporting probably 70% of what we're making.

Probably 50% of what we're making is going into Europe.

Particularly in Germany, France and Scandinavia.

We very much treat these markets like home markets

They have around 90 workers making luxury wares, which are

shipped all around Europe and the rest of the world.

He voted Remain in the referendum - since the result has he noticed any

There really hasn't been that much of a change.

The only thing we've noticed is the pound has devalued,

so that means it's going to be a little bit cheaper

for our customers to buy our product in Europe.

So we're hoping that we'll have quite a surge in orders.

We're not out of it yet, we haven't on the factory floor either.

and everybody is giving it so much doom and gloom.

You're making it feel worse than it already is before we've even

I was quite shocked at the outcome, even though I did vote to leave.

I'm sort of confused and slightly worried bout the future.

We want to know more about what's going on now, because we haven't

trade on goods and services with the European Union.

We can ship completely almost costlessly to Germany or to Spain

and they can ship the same goods back to us as well.

This is why companies like Dunoon have done so well in Europe.

So suppose I pay ?10 to buy a product in the UK,

And a person in Germany also pays ?10.

It's all tariff-free, easy trading while we're still in the EU.

The Government has now confirmed we will leave and have

So how does Alan at Dunoon feel about things changing?

I think, longer-term, there are concerns around trade

barriers and different problems with trying to get into Europe,

because we'll be exporting into Europe rather than, before,

it was selling into a home market, really.

Do you think some of your customers might start looking elsewhere?

It's been good for Dunoon, we've had access into these markets.

We don't ask for any favours, all we really want

is what we as we have at this moment, access to the biggest

single market community in the world, really.

This is why the deal is so important.

So what's this deal he's talking about?

Well, when we decide to leave, the Government will have to begin

negotiations with the EU for new trade deals in every sector.

The problem though is, right now, there isn't

a single vision as to what Post-Brexit Britain

We'll be looking at the next steps we need to take, but also

What is certain thoug,h is that we will have two years

So if in those two years of renegotiation with the EU

we haven't managed to get into a new deal with the EU,

then essentially we're out, and we're like any other

country like the US, Brazil, China, India.

Which essentially transact with the EU through the

And that's significant, because countries in

the World Trade Organisation have to pay tariffs

How much is different in each sector.

For ceramics, it's a 12% charge on top.

Once we've left ? at the moment it's ?10 in Germany as well.

It's going to be ?10 plus this extra 1.2, because that's

the World Trade Organistion tariff at the moment, 12%.

And that 1.2 is going into the EU's tariff collection.

Practically, it's very bad, because our customers

are going to have to pay 12% more for their product.

They've been buying Dunoon mugs for 20, 30 years.

We're just going to have to find a way.

It may be that throughout the negotiations, we can come

to a better deal so we can avoid the 12%.

Maybe can as a trade department, we can negotiate

So for Alan and the pottery trade, they'd need a UK-EU trade

deal sorted within the two-year period to avoid the 12% extra

How long does the average trade agreement take then?

The US-Canada agreement, after the white paper was written,

The EU-Korea deal took about 15 years, and the recent

Switzerland-China deal took about ten years to negotiate.

So these agreements typically take very long.

And that's just the nature of these negotiations.

While Alan is concerned about retaining his European

customers, on his factory floor, they're more optimistic.

I think it's really important we get new trade in as well.

It's all very well that we keep the customers we already have,

So we'd have to sort our own trade deals out, that's the only worry,

Many companies are perfectly happy with existing trade

agreements with Europe and don't really want to change.

Others are quite optimistic about future trade talks.

So when comes to the future of the pottery industry, is it

And I know just the person who can tell me if it

will be easier then to get trade outside of the EU.

In principle, yes, we can start doing negotiations with big

countries like China, like India, like the US -

but what we do know from years and years of trade agreements,

is that typically it's bigger countries that manage to get

a good deal in these bilateral trade agreements.

The future can be seen as a great opportunity to create

new and improved deals, but the past shows it will be hard work,

time consuming and actually favour the bigger countries.

So with a long period of uncertainty ahead,

what's being done to protect the ceramics industry's interests

Chairman of the British Ceramics Confederation.

How are you going to make sure that the ceramics industry has

a voice at the top table, if you like, as we start

We've got a ceramics all-party parliamentary group.

The MP's are active and we need them to continue to campaign on behalf

of the excellent businesses and jobs in their constituencies.

But some people actually might see this as an opportunity to form

new trade agreements, country by country?

We've currently got an incredible number of trade deals

through the EU that's already benefiting our members.

We can't just reinvent them all overnight -

it's going to take time to establish that.

So was Brexit the wrong decision for Stoke?

Ultimately that will take decades to answer, but the pottery industry

here in Stoke and Staffordshire has survived hundreds of years

Whatever happens, you just know they're going to fight.

I think the pottery industry will survive, it always has

We're a tough bunch, but we do need a level playing field.

Coming up on this special edition of Inside Out: Leaving

the Black Country for Poland - but has Claire made

Love you! Love you. I worry about her. One of my main worries is will

she be able to make a living after we have gone?

Farms like these have been using seasonal workers for years, I've

been finding out if they will cope after Brexit?

Immigration was one of the biggest talking point in the run-up to this

summer's EU referendum. Britain voted out. But there has so far been

no indication what this means for immigration or how it will affect

people wanting to come year and work in the UK. That is not good use for

employers, including the nation's growers.

If we can't get people to pick beautiful British apples, we won't

be to grow them. If we can't get the pickers here, they will go rotten in

the field. If the Government concerned it is

not king come in this country, it would be economic suicide and

completely stupid. There's nothing more British than a

strawberry. But could its future be in jeopardy?

There are around 80,000 seasonal migrant workers on our farms, fields

and orchards. And most of the workers are from Eastern Europe.

It's totally different setup from the way it used to be.

ARCHIVE: They know a good thing when they have it, good pay and arrived

in the country. Years ago, British workers travelled for seasonal work

on the farms. Nowadays, living on site doesn't appeal. So foreign

workers have picked up where the Brits left off. Like Rafa, a semipro

football back in Poland, but he still needs to come and pick here in

order to live. It is a problem for us. Sure, we can

earn a lot of money, a chance rise to buy a house or new car.

I'm here for six seasons. So you know what you're doing.

Yeah. I think I am a good pecker. You know that Britain voted to leave

Europe, how did that make you feel? We're worried about this, because

this situation is not good for both sides. For English, it is not good,

because they lose people which were very hard. For us, it is not a good

situation, because we lose cash and the chance for building a life, a

think. But good as decision to lead the EU

but people like Rafa off coming back?

We sent out a very clear message to Europe that people weren't and be

welcome hair. Which is a very sad reflection of the results of the

vote. That may not be what was intended by those who voted Leave,

the latter is how it was perceived. If you are sitting on the fringes of

Eastern Europe, looking for an opportunity to work in Italy,

Germany or the UK, you will probably choose to stay within Germany or

Italy rather than come over on a plane to the UK.

That would be bad news for farms like this one in Herefordshire. It

depends on workers coming in from Europe. Fruit and vegetable growing

have always been a major part of our region's economy. And these days,

British berries are bigger business than ever. 2000 tonnes of soft fruit

growing, picked and packed here every year. The major stores like

Marks Spencer, Sainsbury's and Tesco. It's likely we've all eaten

fruit grown on this farm at some point. But where would the owner be

without seasonal workers? Worst-case Norio, if we can't get

our workforce, we'll be out of business. There is no other way of

looking at it. -- worst-case and Harriet. It's not

easy work, as I will find out by being put through my paces.

You have clean hands? No watch, we're ready to pick

stories. Let's go. -- strawberries.

Realistically, you have some defy seconds to pick a panicked

strawberries. Let me know how I'm doing full-time!

Like a game show. 15 seconds.

They've at the right, the right size, and I have to be quick.

Excellent quality, fit for our valued supermarket customers.

Serious? Pity you have only fell half a

panicked. With a bit more practice, I would

practice, like this lot. Some people at home will be

thinking, why doesn't he just a British workers a bit of extra money

and maybe they will come and work the hen?

It isn't money. Our best workers are owning ?100 a day, way above the

living wage. Everybody works hard. It is not a money issue, it's just

that we need a flexible workforce, and the need to be living with us.

It just doesn't suit British people who want full-time jobs and not,

possibly, some people are quite flexible.

The staff live on site, said a last-minute order comes in, they're

ready to go. He needs flexibility to make the business work. He's keen to

point out his workers are not actually immigrants.

This is the seasonal migration. It isn't immigration. It's nothing to

do with immigration. They love working in this country, but they

are not immigrants, they don't want to stay here. They want to earn

money, work hard and then go home. So what is the answer? The National

Farmers Union is lobbying the Government for special dispensation

to let pickers to come, work and leave.

We have to have access to labour that will come pick fruit and veg in

a field. Will pick, pack and process. Without those workers, we

can't make the long term investments we need to. And we urgently need

certainty on this. A shimmying that the button is pressed on Article 50,

we have two years. After that, there is a big question mark. The

businesses like ours, looking to invest on a five to ten year

framework, that's not good enough. Might some growers move there

business abroad away from Brexit Britain?

Already there are significant sized businesses who, with the degree of

uncertainty, are looking very seriously at whether to make

investment here or in land and production in southern and Eastern

Europe, or outside Europe altogether.

Imports could mean higher prices for us, the consumer. Without foreign

workers, would we struggle to buy British?

We spend so much time in this country in a group bout horticulture

and agriculture promoting British freshness and local Rogers. We are

gritting great support from the consumer, if we haven't got a

seasonal workforce to pick our crops, what will happen? We will

have no business in the UK, everything will be replaced by

imports. Ironically, Brexit might mean less

British fruit and veg on our supermarket shelves. It goes if we

can't sort out who's going to pick it, some farmers might go abroad to

grow instead. Now, if you're enjoying the films

on Inside Out tonight you can catch Keep up to date

on Twitter: @bbciowm. And if you'd like to get

in touch, don't forget Said the message and then you know

what you think of the show and if there is anything you want us to

cover. For our final film tonight,

the result of the EU referendum And that's before negotiations

on Brexit have even begun. For languages graduate

Claire Edgeley, that's meant giving up a good job to start life again

in a new country. I made a deal with myself that, if

Brexit happens, I would hand in my notice the week after and leave.

Which wasn't ideal. I would have liked to stay a bit longer so I had

something solid on my CD and be able to save a little more. -- CV.

She's leaving a lot behind. When Claire first may she was moving to

Poland and leaving her job, I wasn't completely surprised that you are

doing something, because Claire is consummate surprisingly. But --

constantly surprising me. But I thought you maybe did give herself a

enough time to planet. I knew she was thinking about

leaving her job. Everything had gone outside and suddenly, and she was

going to Poland. -- upside down suddenly.

I decided I would accelerate my move to Poland, because, as it's an idea,

it is an experience I was wanted to have, living in Poland. I'm a little

worried that other did it in two years' time, it wouldn't be so easy

for me to up sticks and go. Worries now, as a EU citizen, I can do that.

My name is Marta, I am from Krakow. It's not just one-way traffic, Marta

has made the opposite journey from Claire. The Brexit vote was

unexpected, but she's hoping it will change things for her.

I took this challenge to come to the UK, because I want to become a

journalist. I finished and crackle University, and everywhere I applied

for a job. -- Krakow University. All the jobs what English. Marta

needs to speak good English to work as a journalist. Jazz a part-time

job and is trying at the language there. A friend is helping to settle

in. Erdington has one of the biggest Polish communities in the West

Midlands. Marta is staying here as it will help improve her English.

I will get experience and improve my job in journalism. I also hope I can

make some friends in the community. Claire's passion fruit Poland began

with a childhood visit to her grandad's house in Krakow. Gisela

Love at the country and culture. The Polish like in my family is my

maternal grandfather. He came from a little town not too far from Krakow,

where I want to go to. He had a remarkable life.

He came to England after the war. He was on a regional Poland that was

essentially Germany, and he was taken into the Army. However,

somehow, miraculous he managed to escape and arranged his papers to

get sent to England. He met my grandmother there. I'm looking into

the idea of getting dual citizenship, because I know

that's... I know that I will want to work in Europe again in the future.

As a EU citizen I can just go and there is not so much paperwork. The

sacrifices that I making, I have a job that I'm getting steady money in

from, and when I'm in Poland, I will have to build myself up steadily. At

first, my income would be so great. Select is a bit a risk.

It's never easy starting a new life in a foreign country, as Alicja

knows. She's polish and has made a life in Birmingham with her family.

She runs the Polish expat Association, which has welcomed

centres like this one where Polish in Eastern European migrants can

comfort help and meet new people. Today is one of's first day as a

volunteer at the centre, helping with social media.

Hello. It is my first day of volunteering, is Alicja ya?

Yes, take a seat, and I will bring her.

OK. Hello, Marta. Thank you for coming, I'm glad you decided to

volunteer with us. Come this way. They met thinks this kind of centre

is even more important after the Brexit vote.

People voted for Britain to leave the EU because of migration. People

don't really like having high-level of migrants present in the UK.

Obviously, there is always some hostile toys towards migrants, that

is the same everywhere. -- hostilities towards migrants. After

the vote it has focused negative feelings towards migrant

communities. I believe we can all live in harmony, I went different

communities and nationalities. This event is to do with a children's

writer, he wrote a lot of children's books. He is quite popular in

England, actually. It looks like a really fun day.

There's lot for Claire to do. She wants to start her own business as a

translator. But despite speaking multiple languages, Polish isn't one

of them. I am going to a country where my

language skills aren't that great. And ah got to do things like sort

out a bank accounts, register myself, set up a business for

myself. It doesn't actually feel like I am going. Because I haven't

had too much time to prepare or think about it, and now I am a crude

going. It's hitting me that I'm getting on a plane.

Claire heads to the airport and dad is sad to see her go.

I worry a lot about her. One of my main worries is, would she be able

to earn a living and look after herself after we've gone?

So Claire's getting her new life in Poland. How is Marta getting on back

in the UK? And continue my voluntary work, that

is going to help me with my English. I hope the UK would choose the model

and the freedom of movement of people will remain. British people

living in Poland may be in the same situation at the moment. They cannot

plan how long they can stay. Claire is calling home.

Hello! Hello, Claire.

Are you all right? I'm lovely, you look lovely as well. However things

going? I have accommodation, a few things

lined up to look at. It's quite central, not too far away.

Don't forget, just keep your wits about you. Me and your mamma, we

worry quite a lot when you're away. Love you. Love you!

Bye. Bye. I'm confident that Claire will get

where she wants to go. She may not go there in a straight line, but

she'll get there eventually. I think she'll as a self in the

culture. She's very adaptable, she finds it easy to meet people.

-- as herself in the culture. There has been an Krakow for a few weeks

now, and has found somewhere to live.

Hopefully everything works out all right for me. It would be a great

place to live out the rest of my life is that is how things work out.

Well that's it for tonight from the true garden of England ?

We'll be back next week, see you then.

Inside it will be back next week with more stories you've brought us.

Including our paramedics about a devastating earthquake. -- paramedic

Hello, I'm Riz Lateef, with your 90-second update.

The Prime Minister has ruled out a points-based system