When Brexit Threatened International Growth, The Hague Came Calling
Dennis Vergne, Managing Partner of Basis Ltd was born and raised in The Hague, a city he called home and one he did not expect to come back to in order to keep his company growing.
Dennis provides important work for government services aimed at social causes. From homelessness to Children’s Services, Dennis’ company has been helping government agencies in the UK and throughout the EU. Basis was named by the Financial Times as UK’s Leading Management Consultants in the public and social sectors for 2019. There next step was expansion into the EU until a big problem arose, Brexit. Brexit will turn Dennis’ company into a non-EU entity, making it impossible or near impossible to apply for government contracts within the EU.
As a business registered in the EU, you have the right to compete for public contracts in other EU countries. — European Union Tendering rules and procedures
Starting March 30th, UK companies will no longer be able to compete for these contracts. The UK doesn’t just account for a fraction of EU contracts, in 2015 it accounted for 70% of the total value awarded that year! For people like Dennis, that means its imperative to move their companies within the EU and as soon as possible.
But where to go?
There are cities across the EU where one can go and setup a company and start operations, but the reality is more complicated. Most of the time it means moving staff and founders to a new place even if its only on a part-time basis. In talking to Dennis, a common decision arose. Should our new subsidiary be set up in Belgium or The Netherlands? Both offer easy and quick travel back to the UK and are courting Brexit-ing businesses to move within their ecosystem.
Dennis was deciding between Brussels and The Hague, both centers for government agencies and business. Dennis would be staying in the UK with frequent trips to wherever they decided to set up their company but his business partner, a British citizen would be moving to their new place of operation. Similarly, their partner based in Seattle was looking to make the switch as well. So the decision became more than about just business operations but also about living and working where they decide to set-up. Dennis viewed Brussels as a reasonable business location but Holland offered a closer culture, language, and humor that made it an attractive destination to both live and work. The home he had once left was cast under a new light, a place that was bustling with new and old companies, streets filled with expats and culture, and a place one can easily imagine themselves living in.
The Hague is Home
His mind was made up, The Hague would be his next move. After all the work done in the UK, Dennis felt as though he had to start anew when it came to international contracts. But The Hague made that a welcome proposition, one filled with new possibilities and excited partners. With assistance from The Hague Business Agency to show him around The Hague and making valuable connections, Dennis joined The Hague’s Soft Landing Program, a program to help businesses just like Dennis’ make the easy transition to business and life in the Netherlands. He was shortly introduced to World Startup Factory who were immensely helpful in introducing him to the ecosystem and relevant partners. The Hague Tech was his next stop, the perfect place to situate his company and join a willing community, excited to welcome him and his business to the next phase of their journey.
Dennis is just one of many stories coming from the consequences of Brexit and we at The Hague Tech are here to help facilitate an easy transition and provide a safe landing spot in the heart of the EU. Are you or your company looking to move to the Netherlands? Contact our community Olga to start the next step of your journey.
Written by Charles Weiler-Ulin
