Two thirds (66%) of over 550 businesses polled by PwC ’s small business accounting service MyFinancepartner, said Westminster should focus on agreeing continued access to the single market, while 62% also want trade deals to provide access to non-EU markets.　

Germany would be the top priority EU market for 67% of SMEs with the next preferred export markets - France and Ireland – lagging well behind and favoured by only 5% and 3% respectively.

Only a fifth (21%) of respondents believed the government should prioritise environmental legislation and emission targets, with 40% believing that setting immigration targets should be a government priority.　

However, just 38% of companies say they have a clear plan to drive their growth in the aftermath of the EU referendum outcome, with nearly half (46%) saying the government should focus on support for UK exporters looking to expand outside the EU. 　

Despite this uncertainty almost a third of all respondents (32%) said they intended to grow their workforce over the next 12 months. Some 41% expect Brexit to increase their cost-base, but only 25% expect their prices to increase.

The survey also found that just a quarter (24%) say they have the right level of management information to help them fully measure and predict the impact on their business.　

Tony Price, PwC UK partner, said: ‘Many of the businesses surveyed have contingency plans to grow their business and take advantage of the opportunities that leaving the EU will bring - and that’s welcome. 　

‘However, the inability to pass costs on to your customers will squeeze margins and ultimately reduce productivity while the lack of genuine insight by internal management information systems could leave companies unable to make informed choices.　

Generally, the survey shows the larger the company as measured by turnover, the greater the importance of retaining single market access.

Companies in London and the South East were particularly anxious to retain EU single market access post Brexit (74% and 72% respectively), as were 73% of Scottish SMEs.

In the pro Brexit heartlands of the Midlands, however, only 53% saw this as a priority. 　

EY has published a first round of data from its financial services Brexit tracker survey which has analysed every public statement from 232 banks, insurers, asset managers, fintech firms and private equity houses since the referendum vote.

The firm concludes this indicates that ‘the immediate impact of the referendum result has not been as stark as many initially feared’.

Since 24 June, 40% of the largest insurance companies operating in the UK have publicly said that the Brexit vote will not have a material impact on their business, with over 10% identifying potential positives and opportunities for the companies. Only 16% have voiced concerns over the potential negative impact on their business performance.

Only a fifth (21%) of the major investment banks tracked by EY have voiced concerns over the future or highlighted a negative influence from Brexit on their financial performance in recent earnings statements. Indeed, 15% of investment banks considered the impact to date to be neutral or did not anticipate dramatic repercussions for the company, adopting a ‘business as usual’ approach.

Omar Ali, UK financial services leader at EY, said: “The impact of the second order effects of the referendum result - lower interest rates for longer and the prospect of slower economic growth - were not reflected during the recent earnings season for financial services companies.

‘That said, it is reassuring to see that, two months after the vote, companies across the sector – particularly within the insurance community – seem broadly confident in the ability of their business to weather the initial storm.’

However, Ali pointed out that going forward, the context for the negotiations is complicated as the main public policy asks of financial services companies appear to be diverging dependent on sector.

Speed and political decisiveness is of paramount importance to some of the largest insurers. However, retaining the ability to passport products is the clear priority for investment banks and asset managers, EY says.

The firm says investment banks and asset managers have raised the possibility of reviews or the restructuring of operations in the UK and these potential reviews seem to be contingent on passporting; five of the 20 largest global investment banks have explicitly cited passporting as a crucial factor in their decision-making about the scale of their presence in the UK.

The key issue for retail banks appears currently to focus on EU workers’ rights. Two of the Big Five high street banks have explicitly called for clarification on EU workers’ rights in the UK following the referendum result.

Ali said: ‘The industry has to date been speaking with one voice which is essential. But as the exit strategy is developed, understanding the needs and nuances within the wide variety of companies that make up the sector is going to be really important.’