Normanton firm to broker first Brexit trade deal?

Senior staff from German cleaning products manufacturer, Calvatis GmbH, Ladenburg, visited the Proton Group, in Normanton, on June 27, shortly after the UK’s EU Referendum decision was announced.

The two companies have started exploratory talks about setting up a joint enterprise.

If successful, Calvatis GmbH would establish a trading base in Yorkshire in return for the Proton Group - which supplies a wide range of specialist hygiene items for cleaning and disinfecting all types of draught dispensing equipment - gaining a trading platform in Germany.

Proton Group managing director Murray Angus, a Chamber International export ambassador, said: “We are already active in Europe in but recognise there is a lot more potential for us there. This is evidence that, in spite of the Brexit vote, UK-EU trade can continue, hopefully as close to before as possible.

“The attitude of our two businesses is that it is ‘business as usual’. If the UK continues to supply products and services which are of value to other countries, I cannot see why Brexit should have a major impact.”

Hans Graumans, Calvatis GmbH export sales director, said: “The UK Brexit vote was a surprise, and will give some extra hurdles, but we still believe in trade possibilities with the UK as we have partners in other countries with difficult circumstances for trading.”