The UK is scheduled to depart the European Union (EU) on 29 March 2019. The Brexit clock is ticking and if that date is not extended or a no deal scenario is not taken off the table, the UK may still leave the EU without a deal.
The potential impact scenarios are vast and unknowable at this time. Crawford, with over 75 years’ experience of responding to disruptive events, is excellently positioned to carry on business as usual, whatever the potential ramifications of the UK’s exit and regardless of the nature and speed of departure.
Our mission is to restore and enhance lives, businesses and communities, and as part of a global business headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with offices not only in the UK but throughout Europe, Crawford is working to ensure we are well equipped to respond and fulfill our mission, whatever the Brexit outcome.
To help ensure we are ready, a range of projects have been launched under the direct oversight of Clive Nicholls, president, UK & Ireland to ensure Crawford remains ready to support you whatever the effects of Brexit.
Data Protection and Data Privacy Impacts
We have reviewed our data processing operations and data flows and identified data transfers which would be impacted by a no-deal departure in which the UK would be deemed a third country. We have finalised arrangements to enable Crawford to maintain a free flow of information from the European Union to the UK using standard contractual clauses. We will be working with any clients with whom we provide services on a pan-European basis to agree to variations that ensure we are ready for any eventuality. Our own internal documentation is also being reviewed to ensure continued compliance with GDPR and regulatory guidance related to data protection and data privacy for when the UK leaves the European Union.
Financial Impacts
We have now been assured by our banking partners that we will have access to Single Euro Payment Area (SEPA) payments after Brexit. That means there will be no disruption to payments in and out of any of our accounts, whether held by Crawford or deposit accounts on behalf of clients.
Our People
We are supporting our employees with any issues arising from gaining settled or pre-settled status. We want to ensure they are supported in the process of securing their migration status in advance of the UK leaving the EU. We know that we have very few employees who are directly impacted and as such service levels will not be affected by Brexit in any of its forms.
Procurement Impacts
We are working closely with our suppliers and contractor network partners (Crawford Contractor Connection) to ensure continuity of service and availability of supplies and resources. This work is ongoing and subject to risk rating to assess areas for focus. Additionally, we are working with our partners to anticipate every eventuality.
Claims Impacts
We know that our insurer clients are conscious of the risk of a no deal Brexit impacting higher fraud instances. As you would expect, Crawford, with its laser focus on modern fraud identification techniques is offering a range of solutions for our clients to help ensure we pay only legitimate claims regardless of the nature of the Brexit scenarios to come.
Beyond these areas we are preparing for expected day to day changes that may result — from visas to International Driving Permits and Green Cards, to mobile phone roaming charges and changes to requirements on travel insurance following the loss of European Health Insurance Cards. We have a Brexit approach that, as you would expect of a world leader, thinks of everything.
Taking the right steps
Across Crawford, we have specialists working in all of these critical areas to help minimise the potential impact of the various Brexit scenarios. As these projects evolve, we will continue to keep our clients informed and work with them to understand their own concerns and issues.
To find out more, contact darren.betts@crawco.co.uk of our Ethics & Compliance Office.
