Richard Swart arrived in County Durham exactly 30 years ago to establish Berger UK and is recognised as one of the region's leading international businessmen. Indeed, in 2016, Manufacturing magazine recognised him as one of the top 100 leaders in the sector in the UK.
As an international businessman operating in the manufacturing sector, Richard Swart knows a thing or two about global trade. As head of global sales and quality director for Berger Group Europe, he spends much of his working life travelling the world.
In one of life’s curious twists, Richard came to the North East as a young man with no experience in business – he had been a political journalist in Durban – to establish a manufacturing plant for Berger in Peterlee exactly 30 years ago and stayed.
He is now a senior executive within the Group which is floated on the German stock exchange as Ringmetall AG, employs 500 staff and is looking to achieve a 200 million Euro turnover by 2021. So, when he has a strong view on a subject, people listen.
While international trade is his forte, he is very specific about the regions of the world that are most dear to him.
Born in Durban in 1962, his father Ray was an MP in the Progressive Party. He was a principled, conviction politician who challenged the oppressive apartheid regime and believed in justice for all people.
Richard’s love for his country of birth and his adopted United Kingdom runs deep and he supports the countries in any way he can. This includes being a board director of International Relations for the South African Chamber of Commerce in the UK.
Underlining this commitment, Richard recently facilitated one of the most powerful delegations of politicians and business leaders to visit the UK in recent years, building on earlier links established.
The delegation, including a Zulu Princess, government minister and the Mayor of Durban, appropriately headed for the North East of England. While the challenges that South Africa has overcome are well chronicled and it still has a long way to go to fulfil its true potential, it is the UK’s future that now worries Richard.
The cause of that anxiety is Brexit! Regardless of extensive trade with Europe, Richard has strong views on Brexit and is a passionate ‘Remainer’.
There is no self-interest other than speaking up for what is right and served us so well for decades. Richard is determined that noting the damage so far, sitting back and saying we told you so is not an option.
Brexit is on track to be the greatest act of selfharm a top nation has done to itself in recent times. In 2015 we were the fastest growing economy in the G7. Now we are the slowest!
Every impact scenario commissioned by the government confirms we will be worse off, particularly so in the North East. We all have an obligation to help engineer a way out of the current quagmire.
We had a black and white vote on a rainbow of issues. UK attempting to come out the EU is like trying to take an egg out of an omelette. So messy, damaging and unnecessary.”
In his discussions with prominent figures in the UK and abroad as part of his business and non executive roles, Richard is privy to the views of people who have real insight on Brexit and its implications to the UK in terms of trade and investment. These conversations further reinforce the fear he holds that action must be taken.
“Since the vote to leave, the currency has devalued and pushed up import costs dramatically. As the UK is by far a net importer, most of us have become poorer by the day. “The UK received the most Financial Direct Investment (FDI) in the EU, because it was a great place to access hassle-free the largest single market in the world and by far our largest trading partner. Sadly, we appear on track to give this up and the impact on jobs and communities over time will be huge. Lack of clarity is damaging to FDI and every-day business decisions for key multinational businesses and the many in the supply chains,” said Richard, who was recognised in 2016 by Manufacturing magazine as one of the top 100 manufacturing leaders in the UK.
“People always have the right to change their mind. If this means courting unpopularity in the national interest by speaking truth to power, so be it. For me, this means continuing to strive to be as close as possible to the EU and the range of benefits experienced since joining.
“Joining the EU pulled us out of the 70s doldrums, making us one of the strongest growing global economies.
“We have a serious leadership vacuum in the country with major political parties dominated by right or left wing ideologues fixated on misguided, illusive political utopias and selfish ambitions clearly at the expense of truth, the national interest and what I believe to be the majority middle ground of British politics, who are desperate for bold leadership whom they can trust to lead them out of this mess.
“Why did the government invoke Article 50 – starting the 2 year count-down – when they clearly had no coherent view on Brexit?”
Richard who is a council member, chair of international trade and non executive director for the North East England Chamber of Commerce, added: “We had the best of both worlds, not part of the Euro but a leading part of the largest single market and customs union and negotiating block in the world, with the option to veto anything we did not like.
“We are now retreating in the clear direction of being a marginalised trading nation, aspiring for a world as it existed over 50 years ago. Sadly, the world has moved on but our ideologues haven’t. We owe it to our children to do better.”
Footnote: Richard’s views on Brexit are his own and he is not speaking on behalf of the NEECC.
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