A GERMAN businesswoman who owns a jewellery shop in Edinburgh has told how she was afraid to travel abroad to visit suppliers in case she was not allowed back to the UK.

Uta Rosenbrock, who is married to a Scot and has a 20-year-old son, spoke of her fears as a new report on the impact of Brexit was published.

Brexit: Unheard Voices was presented at an event in Edinburgh, hosted by the EU Citizens’ Rights Project and the Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development, Ben Macpherson.

Rosenbrock, who moved to Scotland 22 years ago from Aachen, was among those who welcomed the report.

“I achieved settled status just a month ago, after a lot of uncertainty and sleepless nights,” said the 49-year-old.

“I run my own business and have lost suppliers due to Brexit and fears over extra import costs. I’ve been afraid to travel abroad to visit my suppliers, in case I had problems getting back into the UK.

“Personal fears have included worries over whether I can still use the NHS and if my mortgage will be affected. There’s so much uncertainty.

“My most productive years have been my 30s and 40s when I’ve built a life in Scotland. This is my home.”

The report has found that across Scotland people are “deeply worried” about losing the right to live, work and study where they want across Europe and are concerned about being able to access food and medicines when needed after the UK leaves the EU.

Organisations operating in Scotland are losing out on vital funding for research, infrastructure and business contracts, according to the report, and many are concerned about the ability to attract and retain workers with the right skills in every industry.

European citizens from outside the UK say they feel vulnerable but have voiced a stronger feeling of being welcome in Scotland, particularly after First Minster Nicola Sturgeon’s reassurances following the referendum.

However, people in rural areas are particularly concerned about the impact of Brexit and see it as the “final straw on already fragile and vulnerable communities”, according to the report.

Children and young people are also feeling a “strong sense of loss” in relation to the opportunities they were expecting to enjoy, and will have to live with the consequences for longer than other age groups.

Whereas young people are worried about Brexit’s effect on environmental, health and work place standards, older people are concerned about the effects on pensions and savings. Both groups fear austerity will be intensified, leading to those with fewer opportunities being affected most.

Commenting on the report, Scotland’s Brexit Secretary Michael Russell said: “By taking us out of a market around eight times bigger than the UK alone, it is clear that Brexit in whatever form will cost jobs, make people poorer, damage our society and undermine the democratic decision of the people of Scotland to remain in the European Union.”.

“Scotland will not accept a Brexit which treats our Parliament with contempt and fails to represent the interests of our people. This report has been an important step in understanding all of the issues faced by all corners of Scottish society.

“We will continue to engage with people across Scotland, and take forward the Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland which the First Minister announced in April.”

Brexit: Unheard Voices brings together the views of 13 groups on preparing for the UK leaving the EU. The Scottish Government’s £150,000 stakeholder engagement fund provided grants to help organisations which otherwise would not have had the resources to highlight their members’ concerns.