VOICES | DORTE RICH JRGENSEN Be open and supportive in post-Brexit Britain As the UK formally leaves the EU, Dorte Rich Jrgensen MCIBSE reects on her difculty in applying for British citizenship and calls on industry to sign the #ConstructionisOpen pledge in support of EU nationals in the UK A round 7% of workers in the construction industry are EU 27 nationals, compared with the national average (excluding construction) of 6%.1 In 2016, after the outcome of the UKs referendum on its membership of the EU, I found myself as a Danish national uncertain about my rights, post-Brexit. There were four million others in Britain and Europe in the same position. In the grip of the Brexit Blues, I started trying to understand how to re-secure my rights under British law. Dual citizenship is now allowed for Danish citizens, so I decided to apply for British citizenship because, as well as future security, it would give me full voting rights. I understood that, under any other category such as Settled Status I would be unlikely to maintain even the voting rights in local elections that EU27 nationals currently enjoy. During the application process, there were real challenges when I needed support from others, while other times provided welcome happiness and relief. The overall process took 22 months, from starting to fill in the forms to completing my British citizenship ceremony in January 2019. Hurdles buried deep in the permanent residency application included having to give evidence of the comprehensive sickness insurance that I was apparently expected to have taken out when I arrived in the UK as a student. Then, I had access to a local GP and knew nothing about this requirement. With support from immigration lawyers provided by the volunteer-run project UK Citizenship for EU Nationals (UKCEN), I discovered that I could choose the five years qualifying period for permanent residency from a time when I was in full-time employment, and exclude my student years. As a result, the sickness insurance requirement became irrelevant and fell away. To obtain British citizenship, you need to pass the Life in the UK Test I really enjoyed learning about Britain and its history for this. It was great fun testing our British friends and colleagues in an alternative pub quiz. New rights and new engagements After obtaining my British citizenship, I voted in a national poll for the first time in 30 years, in the December General Election as did several other EU27 nationals I know who have secured dual citizenship. For all of us, it was an emotional experience. Having a vote gave me a new and different sense of engagement with national life. Denmark did not allow dual nationality for its citizens until 2015. Now that Britain is leaving the EU, I am concerned for those EU27 nationals whose countries still do not allow dual citizenship and who, therefore, dont get this option to secure their rights. It also costs around 1,500-2,000 to complete a British citizenship application, excluding lawyers fees. This is a real challenge for those on lower incomes. So I am concerned about how the industry will continue to welcome and support everyone working, or coming to work, in post-Brexit Britain especially those with additional challenges and limited support. Whatever post-Brexit Britain will be like, we all have a choice about how to respond. We will, I hope, use it as an opportunity to become more aware of our own behaviour, actions and values. My expectation is that CIBSE members will use Brexit as a catalyst to foster a culture of greater openness and mutual support, and that it maintains its role as a professional community that welcomes everyone, wherever they come from. Whatever post-Brexit Britain will be like, I hope we will use it as an opportunity to become more aware of our own actions and values DR DORTE RICH JRGENSEN is a sustainability leader and CIBSE representative on the CIC diversity and inclusion panel. Take the #ConstructionisOpen pledge To become a dual Danish-British citizen, I had and gratefully received support from my MP, UKCEN, the Danish Embassy, my family, colleagues and many other EU27 nationals. Their backing made all the difference to my ability to successfully navigate the complex process 22 February 2020 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE Feb20 pp22-23 Dorte / Swegon.indd 22 24/01/2020 14:52