The UK’s public services, especially care and health, are heavily dependent on EU workers – both skilled and unskilled – and a hard Brexit could see an exodus of talent. A new report from CIPFA’s Brexit commission urges a planned strategy for maintaining EU workforce skills including at regional level through the combined authorities. Michael Burton reports.

The UK’s public services, especially care and health, are dependent on foreign workers but if a hard Brexit results in a crackdown on immigration chronic staff shortages could jeopardise service delivery. Now the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s Brexit advisory commission has produced a study Securing an EU Workforce Deal that Works for Public Services which recommends how any future deal can safeguard staffing levels.