Exactly a week after the Brexit referendum took place, The Right Ethos – recruitment consultants conducted a survey of our client’s reactions.

We work across the UK with clients within communications and campaigning roles in the not-for-profit-sector. In Scotland, this includes SAMH, Quarriers and VOX.

In all, nearly 400 people across the UK have taken part in our survey on the impact of Brexit, which means that it is a credible picture of what the not-for-profit external affairs sector is currently thinking immediately after the referendum vote.

The first question we asked was “Did you vote to Remain in or Leave the EU?”

Many of our people have same sex partners from the EU (including myself). We have no idea what the longer-term implications will be - a director of an LGBT organisation in London

Jonathan Dearth

With 89% voting to remain and only 6% to leave, it’s clear that our audience, does not reflect the UK as a whole. And their responses to how it affects the charity recruitment market were on the whole strong and concerning

One respondent asked what their biggest concern was, said: "Staff employed – many of them are European citizens and it will cost us a lot now in legal fees to clarify their status as we exit and then potential new recruitment too if they are no longer eligible to work in the UK.”

The chief executive of a major health charity said that Brexit “increases uncertainty especially in science investment and attracting best talent, NHS workforce issues may impact beneficiaries.”

A director of a large medical research charity said: “The removal of EU funding sources for researchers is a problem, as will be the resulting increased pressure on UK funding pots. We are also worried about a science brain drain.”

The director of the Scottish operation of one national charity focussed on health was concerned about "uncertainty for EU nationals working in organisations, potential loss of staff.”

A director of communications of a medical charity, similarly was concerned about: “Restrictions/ negative impact on staff recruitment into health and care services from the EU”

A director of a LGBT organisation in London expressed his apprehension on this point: "Many of our people have same sex partners from the EU (including myself). We have no idea what the longer-term implications will be, especially in respect of their entitlement to stay and work within the UK.”

And a programme manager, was worried about her own employment: “Ultimately, I am not British so I am simply revising my medium/long term plans in the UK. My employee will want to retain me (we have already discussed it) so I will either work from abroad or find a new job.”

One responder had a perspective which will be shared by many of our international NGO clients and the threat to the international aid budget that Brexit throws up: “I am a freelance consultant and am concerned that there will be less contracted work due to possible cutbacks in overseas aid spending. Similarly, I am open to a part time campaigns or advocacy related post and feel that again, there may be diminished posts within the international development sector.”

As our survey shows, most people in the charity communications and campaigns sector are troubled and anxious about Brexit – something that 9 out of 10 of them did not vote for last month.

Read the full results of all 6 question of The Right Ethos' BREXIT survey.

Jonathan Dearth is director of the Right Ethos