MEET the Worcester business which has done the full EU 'u-turn' - going from outers, to doubters to fully-blown inners.

Ian and Nicole Whiting run Titania, one of the city's biggest success stories of recent years which has made worldwide waves despite currently employing just 42 people.

The firm, which specialises in cyber security, has customers in over 70 countries and boasts clients like the FBI, the US Government and Navy, Barclays Bank, Manchester City Football Club, the British Government, T-Mobile, BT and the US Air Force.

Just one week ago the duo, based in offices in Barbourne, were planning to back a Brexit, saying they felt there was a need to cut bureaucracy.

But now they say concern over what it could do to small businesses is driving them to back Remain.

Mrs Whiting said: "As an SME (Small Business Enterprise) of the Year we know how important this issue is.

"There's already a massive skills shortage in the data industry, we look at ourselves and places like Malvern Hills Science Park and there's a struggle to get the right people.

"Some of the staff filling our skills gap at the moment are from Europe.

"I agree that the UK could potentially recover, but given trade deals take two to five years to sort out, that's two to five years with our toys playing in our own sandpit."

Titania already supports the IT infrastructure across Europe as part of its work to secure the networks for 16 million people.

Mrs Whiting said the firm, which has won a host of awards, does 70 per cent of its business with America and a Brexit could have severe implications for the IT industry as a whole.

She added that America and the EU share a common agreement on data protection regulations and the UK coming out would require a fresh deal, and that cyber security crosses EU borders.

"For cyber crime it's immensely important to share that data - outside the EU we may still be able to share information but it's not the same on the outside as inside," she said.

"But it'd probably be a significant number of years before that information can flow again, and there is that skills gap.

"We've gone from outers, to doubters to inners - we just feel it makes sense for Worcestershire, the UK and our industry to stay in.

"We wanted out previously mainly because of the bureaucracy, not because it affected us but because others were - but if you look at it, 44 pieces of paperwork it could take to do an import before.

"Now it takes one. Imagine if we went back to that now, it'd be a nightmare."

Are you a business with a view on the EU? Call 01905 742248 or email te@worcesternews.co.uk.