Call for nitty gritty on Brexit

Norman Tenray, chief executive of Longridge-based OBAS UK, said the ambition of PM Theresa May to secure a wide-ranging agreement in the next phase of negotiations needed to be “the last high-level statement.”

He said issues such as tariffs, regulatory co-operation and rules on immigration and labour markets were the issues on which firms wanted to see action.

OBAS UK is sponsoring the Small Business of the Year category at this year’s Be Inspired Business Awards, now open for applications.

Mr Tenray, a former president of the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Most businesses would have been pleased to hear the PM speaking positively about the UK’s future outside the EU, but their willingness to listen to more warm words will be running thin.

"The practical issues that matter for business and trade must now become the absolute priority and attention must turn to the process of getting the details right.”