6-15. At the time of this case writing Brexit was unresolved. What has happened since? How has Brexit affected small companies like ACP Solutions? Preparation is patchy and smaller companies face some of the biggest challenges.

Lynda and Phil Platts were hoping to move to Italy once they retired: they did not imagine they might be moving their UK business there instead because of Brexit. But this is one of several radical options they are having to consider for ACP Solutions, which produces insect repellent and bedbug resistant bedding, if Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal. “One option is to effectively pick [our business] up and move it into an EU territory,” said Phil Platts, adding another would be to sell part of ACP to an EU customer, reflecting how the business exports four-fifths of its insect repellent to the bloc.

Phil Platts at ACP Solutions’ factory in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, is one of a minority of UK companies that have made preparations for how to respond to a no-deal Brexit.