Commenting on the withdrawal agreement put forward by Theresa May this week, chief executive of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) said:

“This agreement makes progress on some of the key issues for our members. It ensures a mutual recognition of skills, citizen's rights, employment rights and standards. By delivering a transition period, it also ensures there is no “cliff-edge” which will be welcome news for all businesses no matter the sector they work in.

"While more clarity is, of course, needed on a final relationship, and it needs to survive ministerial resignations while making its way through the parliamentary process, this proposed deal should be welcomed as an important step-forward.”

ENDS