UK Businesses Face Shake-Up if Britain Rejoins EU, New Report Suggests

As public support to rejoin the EU hits 55%, new industry analysis reveals which sectors stand to gain — and which may face disruption.

A growing appetite for rejoining the European Union is prompting renewed discussion across the UK — not just among politicians, but in boardrooms, export departments, and supply chain teams. A new analysis highlights how 10 core sectors could be affected if the UK were to realign with EU regulations.

Released alongside a visual snapshot of current and predicted industry conditions, the report compares how UK laws have diverged from EU standards since Brexit — and what the practical consequences of rejoining could be.

The Findings: More Winners Than Losers

According to the data, 7 out of 10 major UK sectors would likely benefit from regulatory realignment, while only three could face setbacks under tighter EU frameworks.

Sectors likely to benefit include:

• Healthcare and Manufacturing, due to faster product approvals and harmonised safety standards
  
• eCommerce, Higher Education, Logistics, Construction, and Tech & Data, all of which would see gains in labour mobility, trade ease, and funding access
  
  

Sectors at risk of increased restrictions include:

• Vaping, which may face flavour bans and packaging restrictions under updated EU tobacco directives
  
• Agriculture, where current UK freedoms around gene editing could be reversed
  
• Finance, which may face stricter EU oversight and compliance burdens
  
  

Each sector has been rated using a "Rejoin Readiness Score," with an average of three stars or higher, suggesting most industries could absorb the shift — albeit with some growing pains.

Brexit’s Burden: Logistics, Labour and Compliance

Sean Paterson, founder of wellness brand Get Fung’d Up, says his business has faced rising complexity and costs since Brexit, especially when exporting to EU countries.

“Every added form, fee, and delay slows our growth and complicates customer service,” he explains. “Rejoining the EU would help streamline operations and rebuild confidence in the single market.”

This sentiment is echoed across export-heavy sectors, where customs paperwork, product checks, and VAT confusion have become part of daily operations.

Construction: Still Feeling the Skills Pinch

In construction, regulatory change has been more gradual — but the impact on labour supply is still keenly felt. Dan Sillito, Managing Director at Midland Fire Security Services, says the biggest challenge is finding skilled workers.

“Freedom of movement made it easier to fill roles in areas like fire safety,” he says. “We’re now relying on domestic upskilling, but the pipeline isn’t strong enough. Rejoining might ease the pressure, but long-term investment in vocational routes is essential either way.”

Vaping: Facing a Regulatory U-Turn?

The vaping sector, with a significant manufacturing base in the Midlands and North West, initially saw gains post-Brexit, including public health initiatives such as "Swap to Stop".

But Jonathan Sloth-Nielsen, E-commerce Manager at NextGen360, cautions that those gains could be reversed.

“Autonomy has allowed us to innovate around harm reduction,” he says. “If we rejoin, we’d likely adopt updated EU tobacco directives, which could bring in flavour bans and tighter packaging laws — potentially undermining the progress made in recent years.”