A state-of-the-nation study into how businesses in the energy sector are prepared for Brexit has revealed 62% believe the process of exiting the EU is currently having a positive impact on their business, while just 15% feel it hasn’t had any impact at all.

Commissioned by Huthwaite International, the report shows that post-Brexit business prospects remain positive, with 52% of businesses believing their growth potential will prosper post-Brexit, regardless of the outcome.

When looking at what worries businesses most about the UK leaving the European Union, international trade, uncertainty around trade agreements and changes to laws and legislation ranked as the highest concerns.

Improving negotiation skills also ranked as the biggest priority amongst businesses before the Brexit deadline, with many sighting it to be a key priority when it came to safeguarding profits and reducing overheads.

Tony Hughes, CEO at Huthwaite International, said: “Gaining the skillset and knowledge to survive this economic uncertainty is vital for business success. The UK is packed with ambitious and prosperous companies that in theory should flourish regardless of economic uncertainty, however the importance of obtaining the core skillsets to flourish shouldn’t be underestimated.

“One of the few certainties the UK faces is that, for selling organisations, things are getting tougher. As buying organisations entrench, delaying or even cancelling purchasing decisions, sales teams across all sectors and markets are having to up their game. This means sophisticated negotiation skills aren’t just important to ensure the UK secures a quality deal with the EU, but also form the fundamentals for ensuring business success across the UK too.”

Huthwaite International has published a white paper looking at five key elements businesses can implement to increase sales success in times of economy uncertainty. These include:

• Confidence through coaching
• Aligning capabilities
• Utilising your service resources
• Negotiation skills
• Effective qualification

To access the full research white paper, visit: https://info.huthwaiteinternational.com/improving-corporate-negotiations.