FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4045006

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Scientists controlling EU projects worth millions of dollars say the British exit from Europe risks the future of medical research, and may endanger future treatments for cancer and children.

Research projects at Kings and University Colleges in London rely on the collaboration of hundreds of doctors and multidisciplinary scientists across Europe - which could come under threat because of Brexit.

STORY-LINE:

Precision medicine is changing the future for cancer patients.

This lab at University College London has devised a safer and simpler alternative to standard radioactive techniques of imaging tumours.

Professor Xavier Golay's team has discovered a way to make a tumour light up with a simple sugar solution.

Because the solution is not radioactive is doesn't carry the same side effects which make patients sick.

It means radiodlogists can see tumours in more detail and check them more frequently.

That in turn allows doctors to personalise drug treatments for the patient.

They can respond more quickly, seeing what works and what doesn't and that speed could save more lives.

The team here is about to begin a trial on the new imaging technique thanks to a six and a half million Euro grant from the European Union.

The whole university has 103-million Euros to fund medical and science projects over the next few years.

All currently funded projects will be allowed to complete - but it's what happens next that's vexing doctors and scientist who argue breakthroughs don't come to order at the end of one trial.

Golay says for the vast majority of scientists in Britain the result of the recent EU referendum - for the UK to exit - was a shock.

Golay says it's not just the money which will risk future projects like this.

His team - like most university and hospital research groups - comes from all over the European Union.

Collaboration on this imaging project is with other specialist scientists at the Max Planck Institute in Germany as well as other units including France and Italy.

He's already concerned about the future.

"I've heard of at least two, three very senior people who've said okay right, now I'm taking all my grant with me and I'm going back to Germany, Switzerland, France because actually, in that way, they know they'll still have access and it's not only access to funding because the funding is great in this country, it is really good. It's really (about) access to funding and this opportunity to collaborate."

At preschool age Rens Van Velzen's parents realised he was struggling with dyslexia, but when he went to school it became clear he was autistic.

Van Velzen, now a highly intelligent fifteen year old, is part of Europe's largest study into mental health disorder.

Here researchers like Hannah Haywood combine genetics, neuroimaging, cognitive testing and clinical assessments to try to discover what are the causes.

The research project called EU Aims is carried out here at Kings College London in collaboration with scientists in other centres of Europe.

Costing 32 million Euros it's also the biggest grant given to any one project.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental problem which affects the way people interact with the world around them.

People are affected differently and scientists want to understand why those differences occur.

Haywood says: "One can go on to a life where they never speak, they are highly affected and quite disabled. Another person can go on (to be) fully verbal and become a professor at Cambridge (University) and someone else can go on and live a full life with marriage and children, why does that happen? Why does it affect people so differently when it's effectively the same condition. So we're trying to answer those questions, we're trying to understand why it affects different people in different ways and I think the thing that really attracted me to the project is because, we're trying to highlight the great skills and strengths in this group as well as the things that people find difficult."

The goal is to identify biomarkers and develop drug treatments.

It's a long term study, but how long can it continue here and what happens to the research after the current funding ends in 2020?

Rens Van Velzen is already preparing for A-levels in maths, chemistry and physics.

But his autism means life outside the classroom is not always straightforward.

He explains: "Quite often when talking peer to peer, the other person can get frustrated with how I respond because they're (I'm) not responding the way that they're expecting me to respond as the people usually do. So quite often I don't pick up someone's annoyed, or that sort of thing. It's very hard to explain because I haven't had the experience of not having autism."

Haywood, like others on the team, is convinced the project must be protected and fears Britain leaving the EU will end large scale endeavours like this which progress more steadily because of the wide collaboration among doctors and scientists.

She says: "Quite often there can be a lot of negativity around being diagnosed and living with the condition and in my work, I've worked with autism for twelve years, I have met some of the most skilled and highly intelligent people."

Van Velzen has been part of the study since it started.

Now he's hoping for a career in astrophysics.

"I think I'll work on either discovering more about our universe and our place in it, or working on ways to get to other parts of the universe," says Van Velzen.

After completing puzzles in record time he goes on for tests in the eye tracking unit.

Studies have used eye-tracing technology to see how long autistic children spend looking at the social and non-social features in a series of images on pictures and videos like these.

Ren's mother Jose Van Velzen is a cognitive neuroscientist herself although she does not work on this project.

While she is confident about her son's academic success she worries about how he will cope with work and whether he will find happiness in personal relationships.

She says: "It is sometimes challenging for Rens to keep track of what the person he's talking to is feeling and how he's being perceived. He's very much driven by telling things as they are, or how he sees them and of course in normal interaction, in normal relationships you constantly monitor what the other person is thinking. That's definitely very challenging for him and he is aware that this is one of his weaknesses he needs to work on he cannot always deal with it at that particular time and I think that is something in general that will make relationships and work environments quite a challenging place for him."

According to scientists here this project is the first of it kind in the world developing the infrastructure which will underpin new treatments for autism.

There are hundreds of scientists involved in British research projects which are funded by the EU.

The lead scientist on the autism project at Kings is Professor Declan Murphy - and he too is concerned about what Brexit will mean.

He says:"It's virtually impossible for one country alone to recruit the amount of patients that you really need for a large scale, modern day trial, or study that's going to lead to reliable results. We increasingly recognise that big questions need big populations to come up with the right answers and we simply cannot deliver the amount of patients for the amount of science from one centre from one country. For Example my work needs approximately a thousand individuals who are affected by autism. You couldn't recruit that from one centre, or from one country within a time frame that is meaningful, but we can do that by going to mulitple centres across Europe, working together and learning from eachother."

The EU's Horizon 2020 budget is 80-billion Euro which funds medicine and science research across Europe.

Britain's split from the EU will leave a funding gap as well as a brain drain according to Murphy and he argues it will be the children with autism who will lose out.

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4045006

LEAD IN:

Scientists controlling EU projects worth millions of dollars say the British exit from Europe risks the future of medical research, and may endanger future treatments for cancer and children.

Research projects at Kings and University Colleges in London rely on the collaboration of hundreds of doctors and multidisciplinary scientists across Europe - which could come under threat because of Brexit.

STORY-LINE:

Precision medicine is changing the future for cancer patients.

This lab at University College London has devised a safer and simpler alternative to standard radioactive techniques of imaging tumours.

Professor Xavier Golay's team has discovered a way to make a tumour light up with a simple sugar solution.

Because the solution is not radioactive is doesn't carry the same side effects which make patients sick.

It means radiodlogists can see tumours in more detail and check them more frequently.

That in turn allows doctors to personalise drug treatments for the patient.

They can respond more quickly, seeing what works and what doesn't and that speed could save more lives.

The team here is about to begin a trial on the new imaging technique thanks to a six and a half million Euro grant from the European Union.

The whole university has 103-million Euros to fund medical and science projects over the next few years.

All currently funded projects will be allowed to complete - but it's what happens next that's vexing doctors and scientist who argue breakthroughs don't come to order at the end of one trial.

Golay says for the vast majority of scientists in Britain the result of the recent EU referendum - for the UK to exit - was a shock.

Golay says it's not just the money which will risk future projects like this.

His team - like most university and hospital research groups - comes from all over the European Union.

Collaboration on this imaging project is with other specialist scientists at the Max Planck Institute in Germany as well as other units including France and Italy.

He's already concerned about the future.

"I've heard of at least two, three very senior people who've said okay right, now I'm taking all my grant with me and I'm going back to Germany, Switzerland, France because actually, in that way, they know they'll still have access and it's not only access to funding because the funding is great in this country, it is really good. It's really (about) access to funding and this opportunity to collaborate."

At preschool age Rens Van Velzen's parents realised he was struggling with dyslexia, but when he went to school it became clear he was autistic.

Van Velzen, now a highly intelligent fifteen year old, is part of Europe's largest study into mental health disorder.

Here researchers like Hannah Haywood combine genetics, neuroimaging, cognitive testing and clinical assessments to try to discover what are the causes.

The research project called EU Aims is carried out here at Kings College London in collaboration with scientists in other centres of Europe.

Costing 32 million Euros it's also the biggest grant given to any one project.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental problem which affects the way people interact with the world around them.

People are affected differently and scientists want to understand why those differences occur.

Haywood says: "One can go on to a life where they never speak, they are highly affected and quite disabled. Another person can go on (to be) fully verbal and become a professor at Cambridge (University) and someone else can go on and live a full life with marriage and children, why does that happen? Why does it affect people so differently when it's effectively the same condition. So we're trying to answer those questions, we're trying to understand why it affects different people in different ways and I think the thing that really attracted me to the project is because, we're trying to highlight the great skills and strengths in this group as well as the things that people find difficult."

The goal is to identify biomarkers and develop drug treatments.

It's a long term study, but how long can it continue here and what happens to the research after the current funding ends in 2020?

Rens Van Velzen is already preparing for A-levels in maths, chemistry and physics.

But his autism means life outside the classroom is not always straightforward.

He explains: "Quite often when talking peer to peer, the other person can get frustrated with how I respond because they're (I'm) not responding the way that they're expecting me to respond as the people usually do. So quite often I don't pick up someone's annoyed, or that sort of thing. It's very hard to explain because I haven't had the experience of not having autism."

Haywood, like others on the team, is convinced the project must be protected and fears Britain leaving the EU will end large scale endeavours like this which progress more steadily because of the wide collaboration among doctors and scientists.

She says: "Quite often there can be a lot of negativity around being diagnosed and living with the condition and in my work, I've worked with autism for twelve years, I have met some of the most skilled and highly intelligent people."

Van Velzen has been part of the study since it started.

Now he's hoping for a career in astrophysics.

"I think I'll work on either discovering more about our universe and our place in it, or working on ways to get to other parts of the universe," says Van Velzen.

After completing puzzles in record time he goes on for tests in the eye tracking unit.

Studies have used eye-tracing technology to see how long autistic children spend looking at the social and non-social features in a series of images on pictures and videos like these.

Ren's mother Jose Van Velzen is a cognitive neuroscientist herself although she does not work on this project.

While she is confident about her son's academic success she worries about how he will cope with work and whether he will find happiness in personal relationships.

She says: "It is sometimes challenging for Rens to keep track of what the person he's talking to is feeling and how he's being perceived. He's very much driven by telling things as they are, or how he sees them and of course in normal interaction, in normal relationships you constantly monitor what the other person is thinking. That's definitely very challenging for him and he is aware that this is one of his weaknesses he needs to work on he cannot always deal with it at that particular time and I think that is something in general that will make relationships and work environments quite a challenging place for him."

According to scientists here this project is the first of it kind in the world developing the infrastructure which will underpin new treatments for autism.

There are hundreds of scientists involved in British research projects which are funded by the EU.

The lead scientist on the autism project at Kings is Professor Declan Murphy - and he too is concerned about what Brexit will mean.

He says:"It's virtually impossible for one country alone to recruit the amount of patients that you really need for a large scale, modern day trial, or study that's going to lead to reliable results. We increasingly recognise that big questions need big populations to come up with the right answers and we simply cannot deliver the amount of patients for the amount of science from one centre from one country. For Example my work needs approximately a thousand individuals who are affected by autism. You couldn't recruit that from one centre, or from one country within a time frame that is meaningful, but we can do that by going to mulitple centres across Europe, working together and learning from eachother."

The EU's Horizon 2020 budget is 80-billion Euro which funds medicine and science research across Europe.

Britain's split from the EU will leave a funding gap as well as a brain drain according to Murphy and he argues it will be the children with autism who will lose out.

London, UK - 7 July 2016

1. Various CT scans showing liver cancer pre and post therapy to illustrate the relationship between tumours and glucose

2. Mid of Professor Xavier Golay looking at scans in his MRI lab at the UCL Institute of Neurology

3. Various of Golay and researcher looking at scans

4. Close of tumour in rat highlighted by non radioactive glucose

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Xavier Golay, professor of neurophysics, UCL Institute of Neurology

"I've heard of at least two, three very senior people who've said okay right, now I'm taking all my grant with me and I'm going back to Germany, Switzerland, France because actually, in that way, they know they'll still have access and it's not only access to funding because the funding is great in this country, it is really good. It's really (about) access to funding and this opportunity to collaborate."

6. Close of autistic teenager Rens Van Velzen answering questions testing his cognitive and executive function at Kings College London

7. Close of psychologist Hannah Hayward asking questions

8. Mid of Velzen ticking off words he understands

9. Various of Velzen watching next task being set up

10. Mid of Velzen touching laptop screen to pick out the emotion displayed on the photo on the monitor

11. Close of Velzen touching the word "Cautious"

12. Close of touch screen

13. Mid of Velzen watching screen observed by Hayward

14. Close of Velzen

15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hannah Hayward psychologist, EU Aims (autism research project) Kings College London

"One can go on to a life where they never speak, they are highly affected and quite disabled. Another person can go on (to be) fully verbal and become a professor at Cambridge (University) and someone else can go on and live a full life with marriage and children, why does that happen? Why does it affect people so differently when it's effectively the same condition? So we're trying to answer those questions, we're trying to understand why it affects different people in different ways and I think the thing that really attracted me to the project is because, we're trying to highlight the great skills and strengths in this group as well as the things that people find difficult."

16. Close of Hayward starting stopwatch

17. Close of cube pattern Velzen has to recreate

18. Close tilt down of Hayward observing

19. Close of Velzen

20. Close pan from pattern and blocks being constructed by Velzen

21. Mid of Velzen completing puzzle watched by Hayward

22. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rens Van Velzen, teenager in Kings College autisim research group

"Quite often when talking peer to peer, the other person can get frustrated with how I respond because they're (I'm) not responding the way that they're expecting me to respond as the people usually do. So quite often I don't pick up someone's annoyed, or that sort of thing. It's very hard to explain because I haven't had the experience of not having autism."

23. Various of Van Velzen completing other puzzles with black and yellow blocks

24. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hannah Hayward psychologist, EU Aims (autism research project) Kings College London

"Quite often there can be a lot of negativity around being diagnosed and living with the condition and in my work, I've worked with autism for twelve years, I have met some of the most skilled and highly intelligent people."

25. Various of Hayward attaching EEG wires to Van Velzen before eye tracking tests

26. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rens Van Velzen, teenager in Kings College autisim research group

"I think I'll work on either discovering more about our universe and our place in it, or working on ways to get to other parts of the universe."

27. Mid of monitor displaying photographs of facial expressions with options to pick the right description

28. Close of Van Velsen tapping keyboard

29. Mid of test continuing on monitor

30. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jose Van Velzen, Rens' mother (who is also a cognitive neuroscientist)

"It is sometimes challenging for Rens to keep track of what the person he's talking to is feeling and how he's being perceived. He's very much driven by telling things as they are, or how he sees them and of course in normal interaction, in normal relationships, you constantly monitor what the other person is thinking. That's definitely very challenging for him, and he is aware that this is one of his weaknesses he needs to work on he cannot always deal with it at that particular time and I think that is something in general that will make relationships and work environments quite a challenging place for him."

31. Mid rear view of Rens Van Velzen being shown photos in the eye tracking suite

32. Various of monitor

33. Various of Hayward carrying out tracking test

34. Hayward's monitor showing Rens Van Velzen responding to photographs

35. Mid rear view of Van Velzen watching animated patterns appear on screen

36. Various of Professor Declan Murphy lead scientist on the EU Aims study on autism

37. SOUNDBITE: (English) Professor Declan Murphy lead scientist, EU Aims study on autism, Kings College London

"It's virtually impossible for one country alone to recruit the amount of patients that you really need for a large scale, modern day trial, or study that's going to lead to reliable results. We increasingly recognise that big questions need big populations to come up with the right answers, and we simply cannot deliver the amount of patients for the amount of science from one centre from one country. For example, my work needs approximately a thousand individuals who are affected by autism. You couldn't recruit that from one centre, or from one country within a time frame that is meaningful, but we can do that by going to mulitple centres across Europe, working together and learning from eachother."

38. Mid rear view of Rens Van Velzen responding to picture during eyetracking test

39. Close of EEG reading on monitor

Proud to be British - but with a lot of help from India.

UK engineering firm Renishaw has been using Indian-manufactured parts for products like their 3D printer for years.

And they hope that an upcoming trade mission this week will help strengthen ties between the two countries.

"We make some very high quality products in India that we then export back to the UK for assembly into our products that are then again re-exported to anywhere else in the world," said Rhydian Pountney, director of sales and marketing at Renishaw.

"So when it comes to negotiations between the UK and India, clearly we want to see the minimum amount of barriers – whether they be tariff or non-tariff. Any easing, simplification of that is going to be most welcome."

The trip, led by British Prime Minister Theresa May, is hoped to lay the foundations of a new era in UK-India trade.

It's May's first major bilateral trip since she assumed control of the government after Britain voted to leave the European Union this summer.

But some believe the trip will be dominated by exercising damage control - an attempt to counter the negative impact of a Brexit vote.

"Partly this is going to be about PR and particularly about the whole rhetoric around Brexit," said Professor Jaideep Prabhu, director of Centre for India and Global Business at Cambridge University's Judge Business School.

"People might expect that there's going to be some kind of free trade treaty happening sometime soon between India and the UK, but I don't think that's going to happen very quickly because those are very complex."

That may dampen the mood of many pro-Brexit voices in the UK who campaigned on the belief that being outside of the EU would more easily allow bilateral trade agreements between the UK and emerging markets like India.

But despite the complexity of negotiating such agreements, critics of May's government say roadblocks to any future UK-India trade deal can be boiled down quite simply.

"I think it will be very, very difficult for the British government to make any headway in discussions with India unless we're willing to adopt a more relaxed approach to visas," said Vince Cable, former UK Business Secretary.

He cites the now stalled EU-India trade talks that he says were stumped by the UK's refusal to allow New Delhi's calls for relaxed immigration rules.

Since Theresa May placed stricter rules on student visas, the Indian student immigration population to the UK has more than halved, from 40,000 in 2010-11 to less than 20,000 in 2014-15.

For Indian entrepreneurs like Chitresh Sharma, this issue is only too familiar.

After studying in Glasgow and starting a business that now employs more than 40 people, he is unsure if he will even be able to stay in the country long-term.

In Britain on an entrepreneur visa, he needs to hit particular targets within five years to guarantee staying in the country.

He's on track, he says. But it's hard.

And to grow his business, he needs to look outside of the UK talent pool for employees.

The best place to look? India.

But for now, he has put his plans for attracting Indian tech talent to his start-up on hold.

He'll wait it out, he says, until things become a little clearer.

Theresa May leaves for her three-day trip to India on November 6.

Wotton-under-Edge – 4 November 2016

1. Various of machines operating at UK engineering firm Renishaw's headquarters

2. Various of Rhydian Pountney, director of sales and marketing at Renishaw

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Rhydian Pountney, director of sales and marketing at Renishaw:

"We make some very high quality products in India that we then export back to the UK for assembly into our products that are then again re-exported to anywhere else in the world. So when it comes to negotiations between the UK and India, clearly we want to see the minimum amount of barriers – whether they be tariff or non-tariff. Any easing, simplification of that is going to be most welcome."

4. Various of 3D printer operating

London – 4 November 2016

5. Wide tilt down of Professor Jaideep Prabhu, director of Centre for India and Global Business, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Professor Jaideep Prabhu, director of Centre for India and Global Business, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge:

"Trade between India and the UK is somewhat disappointing. Given the historical links between the two countries, the large Indian diaspora here, common language, legal system and so on, you would expect much more trade. In 2014, if you looked at exports from the UK to India, they are on the order of 8 billion and India was 13th in the list of top exporters from the UK, way down the list from the US, which is at the top with something like 80 billion, or even China, with about 18 billion."

7. Cutaway

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Professor Jaideep Prabhu, director of Centre for India and Global Business, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge:

"Partly this is going to be about PR and particularly about the rhetoric around Brexit and looking to the wider world for trade possibilities. So people might expect that there's going to be some kind of free trade treaty happening sometime soon between India and the UK. I don't think that's going to happen very quickly because those are very complex. The groundwork may be laid for that."

London – 3 November 2016

9. Various of former UK Business Secretary Vince Cable, in interview

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Vince Cable, former UK Business Secretary:

"I think it will be very, very difficult for the British government to make any headway in discussions with India unless we're willing to adopt a more relaxed approach to visas. I mean it's very clear. I was involved for five years in the negotiations involving the European Union and India – trying to encourage the negotiations, and the problem was it run into the buffers partly because of problems on the Indian side, but mainly because of the British. It wasn't because the other European countries were holding us back, it was because of British objections."

11. Various of start-up company Swipii and Indian co-founder Chitresh Sharma showing how app works

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Chitresh Sharma, co-founder of start-up Swipii:

"Our company employs roughly over 40 people, in just under three years, and I myself am on an entrepreneur visa. And I have really high targets to hit, in order to even get a permanent residence."

13. Various of employees at Swipii in London office

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Chitresh Sharma, co-founder of start-up Swipii:

"We struggle to find some particular specialists in the UK to get our job done and ultimately we have to contract it to companies in India doing it on a consultative basis. Which not always translates – the communication, probably because they are so far away, time difference is a problem, the money involved in paying someone here would be far cheaper than actually having to manage a company there. So yeah, we are still looking for people but I don't know with Brexit happening how the rules and regulations are going to dictate so we have put that to rest and we are just trying to use the current pool of talent as much as we can."

15. Various of Swipii office in start-up accelerator space

As polls opened across Britain for a referendum on membership of the European Union, some commuters on their way to work said they had yet to make up their minds up on which way to vote.

More than 46 million people were registered to vote in the referendum, which asks: "Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?" The heated campaign saw the nation take stock of its place in the modern world and question the direction it wanted to take in the future.

Financial markets and bookmakers put their money on Britain's voting to remain a part of the European Union on Thursday.

Also buoying the markets was an opinion poll conducted by the Ipsos MORI firm for the Evening Standard newspaper which suggested the "remain" camp winning by a narrow margin.

"It's perfectly possible that England will vote to leave but London as the capital city, and Scotland and Northern Ireland will all vote to remain and outweigh ultimately the view of the English as a whole," said Ben Page, the chief executive officer of the market research firm.

"Leave" campaigners claim that only a British exit can restore power to Parliament and control immigration. The "remain" campaign led by Prime Minister David Cameron argues that Britain is safer and richer inside the 28-nation EU.

Financial markets have been volatile ahead of the vote, with opinion polls suggesting a tight race, but the pound surged Thursday amid market optimism that uncertainty over the vote would end with a vote to stay.

The pound, which experts say would face a sharp drop in case of an EU exit, rose to its highest level this year, to around 1.4900 US dollars. Britain's benchmark stock index was up 1.2 percent, adding to big gains so far this week. Other European stock markets were up almost 2 percent.

Turnout is considered critical in the vote, as polling suggested there were a number of undecided voters. A large turnout will favor the "remain" campaign as those who waver at the end tend to go for the status quo. Those favoring "leave" also tend to be more committed.

It was raining heavily in some parts of the country, which could reduce turnout and there were anecdotal reports of voters being unable to get to the polls.

Downpours and flooding swamped parts of London and southeastern Britain. London's Fire Brigade received hundreds of calls of weather-related incidents early Thursday, including some reports of flooding and lightning strikes.

Weather forecasters quipped that voters in the southeast would need umbrellas and possibly rubber boots in order to cast ballots.

The slaying of pro-Europe lawmaker Jo Cox in the final week before the vote may also prove a factor in the outcome.

While the motive is unclear, the rare killing of a politician cast a shadow over a divisive campaign unusually heated even by Britain's boisterous standards.

The reach of the EU into every aspect of life has made the issues at stake far more complex than in a general election - and far more heated. Unlike in an election where the results can be reversed in the next term, the vote is final.

There is a small chance, though, that Parliament could choose not to implement the decision. But such a move would be politically difficult - as any politician would find it tough and likely a career-ending move to go against the express will of the people.

London - 23 June 2016

1. Pull up from puddle with reflection of parliament to media at College Green

2. Pan outside of Parliament

3. Puddle with reflection of media to parliament

4. Set up of Ben Page, Chief executive officer of Ipsos Mori

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Ben Page, Chief executive officer of Ipsos Mori:

"Our latest survey, taken on the eve of the referendum shows remain winning by a narrow margin of about 2 percentage points, 52 percent. There's also been a rise in the proportion of Britons as a whole expecting remain to win, so let's see, There's still 13 percent of people who say they may change their mind, and 5 to 10 percent will make up their mind finally in the polling booth, where I am not allowed to go."

6. Big ben reflection in puddle

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ben Page, Chief executive officer of Ipsos Mori:

"It's perfectly possible that England will vote to leave but London as the capital city, and Scotland and Northern Ireland will all vote to remain and ultimately outweigh the views of the English as a whole."

8. Media outside parliament

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Ben Page, Chief executive officer of Ipsos Mori:

"I think if, only if this referendum comes down to the last few thousand votes will people be saying 'ah yes, it was the weather what won it, God did it.' It is true, it seems, that the rain has fallen most heavily on the capital city which is strongly for remain, and we will see what happens but when we looked at it with the Met Office a few years ago, looked at all the past elections and the weather, it's difficult to see a very absolutely certain pattern but it is true that Brexit voters are much more determined than remain voters."

10. Commuters on the way to work

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Amanda Jeksy, 47, undecided voter, works in Housing Association care:

"I'm really not quite sure. I had been thinking about out, because I didn't think that David Cameron had given a strong enough argument for why we should stay in but there's so much about what the impact would be in the short term that I'm quavering towards the in vote, so I'm really not decided yet, I've got a bit more time to make my mind up."

12. Pan down of Parliament

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Steve Fawcett, Accountant, 54, undecided

"One isn't worried about how it affects me personally, financially, versus Europe, someone remote telling us what to do and I really need to make a decision on those two things, they are they key things for me."

14. Cutaway media

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Sinead Grey, 28, Works in advertising, voting remain:

"I voted, I voted on my way into work this morning and I'm voting to remain because I think we're stronger in the European Union."

16. Media outside parliament

17. Various of polling station near Parliament

18. Various of Jo Cox memorial outside of Parliament

19. Various of commuters on the way to work

20. Out sign

21. In sign, pan to Parliament

There was shock and sadness within the London bubble as commuters went to work on Monday with commuters fearing the implications of the UK vote to leave the European Union.

"I think the whole country is going into meltdown, Cameron has gone, the Labour party seems to be falling apart, I think everyone is pretty shocked," Amanda Jeksy, who works for Housing Association, said on her way to work.

Julie Celovic, a 55 years old who owns women's underwear business said that she worried about the potential impact on her business, while Lidia Ostafe, 30 year old recruitment consultant from Romania, said that she'll be fine, "not in the UK but may in another country, maybe in Romania, who knows."

Meanwhile on the political level, International Development Secretary Justine Greening called on the two Conservative frontrunners, Boris Johnson and Theresa May to avoid a leadership election.

"I'd like to see them come together to give some unity and stability for our party without the need of a leadership contest if we can possibly avoid it," she said.

Meanwhile Chris Bryant, the former Shadow Commons leader who resigned from his post yesterday, slammed Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, calling for his resignation.

"When it came to European Union, Jeremy effectively undermined our own campaign. In the end people didn't even know if he personally was going to vote to leave or remain," he said.

There was shock and sadness within the London bubble as commuters went to work on Monday with commuters fearing the implications of the UK vote to leave the European Union.

"I think the whole country is going into meltdown, Cameron has gone, the Labour party seems to be falling apart, I think everyone is pretty shocked," Amanda Jeksy, who works for Housing Association, said on her way to work.

Julie Celovic, a 55 years old who owns women's underwear business said that she worried about the potential impact on her business, while Lidia Ostafe, 30 year old recruitment consultant from Romania, said that she'll be fine, "not in the UK but may in another country, maybe in Romania, who knows."

Meanwhile on the political level, International Development Secretary Justine Greening called on the two Conservative frontrunners, Boris Johnson and Theresa May to avoid a leadership election.

"I'd like to see them come together to give some unity and stability for our party without the need of a leadership contest if we can possibly avoid it," she said.

Meanwhile Chris Bryant, the former Shadow Commons leader who resigned from his post yesterday, slammed Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, calling for his resignation.

"When it came to European Union, Jeremy effectively undermined our own campaign. In the end people didn't even know if he personally was going to vote to leave or remain," he said.

London - 27 June 2016

1. Various of Parliament in rain

2. Commuter with umbrella on way to work

3. Wide of Parliament

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Amanda Jeksy, works for Housing Association (was undecided, but voted Remain):

"Yeah, there seems to be a big divide, I think the whole country is going into meltdown, Cameron has gone, the Labour party seems to be falling apart, I think everyone is pretty shocked. I think it is quite concerning the way the country seems to be divided, people didn't expect the outcome that they're getting and there is concern over what will be happening next, I think everyone is just a bit anxious and uncertain about the future."

5. Cutaway policeman outside of Parliament

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Julie Celovic, 55 years old, owns women's underwear business:

"I'm just really sad about it, I can't believe it went that way. I just think it's going to impact on us so much on us in the future. I've got a small business, exports an awful lot, I just don't know where we stand."

7. Commuters on the way to work

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Lidia Ostafe, 30 year old recruitment consultant from Romania:

"Well, I'm a bit worried about my future, I probably have to leave in two years, but if that's their choice, it's fine because there are so many other countries that who would like to have an experienced recruiter like me. I have experience here in the UK, and in Romania I have a PhD. I'm sure I'll be fine. Not in the UK but may in another country, maybe in Romania, who knows."

9. Parliament ++MUTE++

10. Media outside Parliament

11. Set up of Justine Greening, International Development Secretary Justine Greening, Conservative MP:

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Justine Greening, International Development Secretary Justine Greening, Conservative MP:

"Well I think it's really important that now that the British people have spoken in this referendum that we have a strong united Conservative Party in government to take those wishes forward. I want to see the two clear front runners now that the Prime Minister has resigned, who are Boris Johnson and Theresa May, I'd like to see them come together to give some unity and stability for our party without the need for a leadership contest if we can possibly avoid it. I think the British people now are expecting and relying on us to get on with this decision that they have taken on leaving the EU. I also think it's a time when we should be looking outward as a party, not inward, and if we can possibly avoid a protracted leadership contest that would take place, possibly over several months, I think we should do that."

13. Set up of Chris Bryant, former Shadow Commons leader who resigned from his post yesterday, Labour MP:

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Bryant, former Shadow Commons leader who resigned from his post yesterday, Labour MP:

"Frankly Jeremy Corbyn can't unite the party. There are only three things a leader of a party has to do, first of all unite the party, the parliamentary party and the wider party around the country. Secondly provide an inspiring leadership and thirdly make sure that you convince voters that we are a credible alternative government and I don't think Jeremy is able to do any of those three things. I've desperately tried to work with him to make this work and I've tried to take the fight to the Tories and put a cogent Labour case but when it came to the European referendum Jeremy effectively undermined our own campaign. In the end people didn't even know whether he himself personally was going to vote to leave or remain."

15. Wide of Parliament

16. Various of commuters on the way to work

17. UK Flag

18. Pan from in sign to Parliament

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Boxford Farm, Suffolk and Essex border - 24 August 2016

1. Pull focus to raspberry growing on vines

2. Raspberries being picked

3. Raspberries placed into packets

4. Various of migrant workers picking raspberries

5. Set up shot of Ismigyul Ismetova, 25 years old, from Targovishte, Bulgaria, seasonal fruit picker

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Ismigyul Ismetova, seasonal fruit picker from Bulgaria:

"Because in Bulgaria is not a lot job. We have, but it's don't pay good. And here is better."

7. Set up shot of Redzep Bayram from 21 years old, student in Bulgaria, from Plovdiv, seasonal fruit picker

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Redzep Bayram from 21 years old, student in Bulgaria, from Plovdiv, seasonal fruit picker:

"Because Bulgaria is poor country, you don't have money, and I can't pay my school if I work in Bulgaria. I need to work somewhere."

9. Mid of rows of strawberry plants

10. Worker picking strawberries

11. Close of strawberries being picked

12. Worker picking strawberries

13. Box of strawberries

14. Set up of Laurence Olins, Chairman of British Summer Fruits industry association

15. Close of strawberry

16. Olins eating strawberry

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Laurence Olins, Chairman of British Summer Fruits industry association:

"Deny that labour, fruit growers will reduce and restrict their businesses and the smaller growers will go out of business, totally. The larger growers, and they are already doing this, are farming overseas. They won't move their land for obvious reasons, but they will move their skill, their capital and their expertise. And we've got UK growers who are growing in Poland, South Africa, France, Poland now. They certainly will do it in the future if there is a restriction here. But there is also the uncertainty factor. Growers have to plan 2-3 years ahead in buying their plants and their trees, and I know growers who stopped expanding because they can't put an order in for their trees or plants, because they don't know whether they will have labour in 2018 and 2019 to pick that crop, so already we will see the effect."

18. Wide of apple orchard

19. Pan of applies

20. Robert Rendall, 38, managing director of Peake Fruit and director of Boxford Farms

21. Rendall eating apple

22. SOUNDBITE (English) Robert Rendall, managing director of Peake Fruit and director of Boxford Farms:

"We are so reliant on our migrant workforce because, you know, the crop ripens and needs to be harvested when it needs to be harvested. We can't wait for Monday morning to do that so we need that labour. If we don't have that labour, we don't get that crop harvested, then the higher value jobs – the processing jobs, the sales jobs, the logistics jobs – don't exist. We don't have that home grown produce, we don't have the industry that surround that and brings that to market. So yeah, there is a whole industry reliant on this migrant labour."

23. Close of apples

London - 24 August 2016

24. Set up shot of Emily Lydgate, UK Trade Policy Observatory, University of Sussex

25. SOUNDBITE (English) Emily Lydgate, UK Trade Policy Observatory, University of Sussex:

"I think the simple answer is that labour standards are quite low and it's very hard work, it involves a lot of physical labour and low wages, so there is just not a lot of interest amongst Brits in taking up these jobs to the extent that when there are labour shortages and temporary migrants don't come in sufficient numbers the harvest will literally rot on the trees."

Boxford Farm, Suffolk and Essex border - 24 August 2016

26. Various of strawberries being processed in factories

27. Various of fruit

STORYLINE:

Ismigyul Ismetova wrapped her muddy fingers around a plump raspberry, plucked it from the stalk and dropped the fruit into a tray in a field in Suffolk, deftly completing a task that is too delicate for a machine.

While her work may be low-skilled, it's an essential and irreplaceable link in the harvest of berries. There's just one problem: British farmers may soon be unable to find workers like the 25-year-old Bulgarian because of the UK's vote to leave the European Union.

British fruit growers rely on seasonal workers from other EU countries to harvest their crops because local workers no longer want the poorly paid, physically demanding jobs that offer little security. EU citizens have the automatic right to work in any member state, and low-skilled east European labourers have helped fuel Britain's economy since their countries joined the bloc in 2004. That labour supply is under threat after concerns about immigration drove the campaign to leave the EU.

Other industries also depend on European workers, with more than 1.9 million EU citizens accounting for 6.1 percent of Britain's workforce last year, according to the Office for National Statistics. Manufacturing was the biggest employer of EU labour, with 292,000 workers, followed by wholesale and retail sales at 230,000, lodging and food service at 213,000 and health and social work at 176,000.

But few are as dependent on migrants as the produce industry. British agriculture employs about 67,000 seasonal workers every year and more than 80 percent of them come from other EU countries, according to the Home Office.

Brits want 9-to-5 jobs that don't involve laboring in the sun, said Robert Rendall, 38, managing director of Peake Fruit and director of Boxford Farms, who employs 220 foreign seasonal workers and supplies big grocery chains like Sainsbury's and Tesco.

Migrant labourers usually are required to live on the farms so they can get into the fields early and work late as they race to pick ripe produce before it spoils. Labourers, who work on a piece rate, can bend down 4,000 times a day to cut celery or pick 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of strawberries an hour, according to a 2013 report from the Home Office's Migration Advisory Committee.

Losing the migrants will have knock on effects throughout the soft fruit industry, which generates about 1.2 billion pounds ($1.6 billion) of retail sales.

"The crop ripens and needs to be harvested when it needs to be harvested. We can't wait for Monday morning to do that, so we need that labour,'' said Rendall. "If we don't have that labour, we don't get that crop harvested, then the higher value jobs, the processing jobs, the sales jobs, the logistics jobs, don't exist.''

As if that weren't enough, farmers also rely on EU subsidies, which are also in jeopardy as Britain forges a new relationship with the other 27 members of the trading bloc. While the government has promised to continue such subsidies until 2020, nervous farmers are already sorting things out for themselves.

Rendall, whose grandmother started the family farm when they moved to the UK from Palestine in 1938, decided last year to postpone a 500,000-pound ($650,000) investment in cherry operations that would have generated about 1 million pounds ($1.31 million) in annual revenue.

Rather than wait to see what happens, farmers will protect their businesses by shifting planting from fresh produce to other crops say the UK Trade Policy Observatory at the University of Sussex. "And one of the reasons for that is their reliance on EU labour.''

Such a shift is already under way, said Laurence Olins, chairman of British Summer Fruits. Larger growers are moving their capital and expertise overseas. Smaller ones will just die.

"Growers have to plan two to three years ahead in buying their plants and their trees,'' he said. "And I know growers who stopped expanding because they can't put an order in for their trees or plants because they don't know whether they will have labour in 2018 and 2019 to pick that crop. So already we will see the effect."

That means fresh fruit is likely to become more expensive, and those who want to buy local will find it increasingly hard to do so - despite recent efforts to persuade consumers that doing so is good for their health and the economy.

Britain could ensure the supply of labour with special visa rules for foreign agricultural workers, like those it had in the past. But with so much up in the air after the EU vote, it is unclear when that will be sorted out.

All of the uncertainty is troubling to Ismetova, who comes from Targovishte, an old market settlement in northeastern Bulgaria, where the best work she can get pays 2.30 lev ($1.30) an hour. In Britain, she earns 7.20 pounds ($9.45) an hour - about seven times as much - so she's willing to accept a job that has no firm hours or fixed days off. And besides, there is little work in Bulgaria, she said.

Even though the work is seasonal and the cost of living in Britain is higher than at home, Ismetova is content to live in a trailer with her husband, a driver in the pack house, and save money. She dreams of buying a house in Britain.

"If the UK stops people like me to come here to work, it would be bad news," she said.

Dr Emily Lydgate, of the UK Trade Policy Observatory at the University of Sussex believes that the bad news would extends all round.

"I think the simple answer is that labour standards are quite low and it's very hard work, it involves a lot of physical labour and low wages, so there is just not a lot of interest amongst Brits in taking up these jobs to the extent that when there are labour shortages and if temporary migrants don't come in sufficient numbers, the harvest will literally rot on the trees."

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European Union nationals living in the United Kingdom remained worried on Wednesday despite the European Union's chief Brexit negotiator saying their status remained a key issue in the ongoing Brexit negotiations.

Michel Barnier said on Wednesday morning that one of the key issues he plans to tackle in the coming months is the future of millions of citizens affected by the UK's decision to leave the EU.

Elmar Stracke, a German national studying at the London School of Economics, told The Associated Press that Barnier's comments were "very reassuring", before adding there is "still a high level of uncertainty".

Italian national Jan Mazza, who is also studying at LSE, said he has put off applying for jobs and PhD programmes in the UK as a result of Brexit.

It's the first time a member has ever left the EU, so these negotiations are taking the Europeans into uncharted waters.

The process is unprecedented and complicated, and combined with fresh delays caused by snap elections in Britain, has ratcheted tensions between Prime Minister Theresa May's government and the 27 nations that will remain in the EU.

Savvas Tsotsos from Greece has lived in the UK since 1992. He is currently the manager of Bar Polski in London's Holborn district, which caters for many EU nationals living in the British capital.

He said Barnier's comments are "a good start" but don't make him feel any more secure.

London - 3 May, 2017

1. Students eating lunch outside London School of Economics

2. LSE Library exterior

3. Close of LSE sign

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Elmar Stracke, German national living in UK, student at London School of Economics:

"I mean it's a grey zone, we don't have a precedent case for this. We don't know what's going to happen. It's good to know and it's very reassuring, yes, they (the EU) are going to fight for our rights but there is still a high level of uncertainty and so in this sense it's a bit reassuring but it's still a very worrisome situation."

5. Cutaway of students

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jan Mazza, Italian national living in UK, student at London School of Economics:

"Well I think it's partially reassuring, it's something I really care about especially in terms of personal priorities. It's something I was thinking about because when planning my future I was a bit sceptical, I still did not apply for many jobs or PhD programmes in the UK because I didn't know what was going to happen. I still don't know, we still don't know, but I think it's quite important to know that policymakers are taking into account this issue and they are giving priority to it because there are so many people working or studying in the UK, and also British nationals in Europe that it's really a priority for all of us and also for the UK itself I think."

7. A student eating lunch

8. Various of Bar Polski in London's Holborn district

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Savvas Tsotsos, Greek national living in UK, manager of Bar Polski in Holborn area of London:

"I think it's a good start but it doesn't make me feel more secure. I was feeling quite worried at the beginning after the referendum and I still feel very worried about what's going to happen to us. We have all been here, I mean many of us have been here for lots of years, we've got families here, we've got people we love here, we've got our jobs and our careers, and it doesn't make me feel any better still, so I'm still very worried about what's going to happen."

10. Tsotsos behind bar

A growing number of Bulgarians who worked or studied abroad look have returned home in the recent years for career opportunities, according to government figures.  

Bulgaria's National Statistics Institute says over 30,000 people per year still move to countries like Germany, the UK and Spain, but in the recent years, the number of Bulgarians who chose to return back home has risen.

Western Europe remains the most popular destination for Bulgarian migrants, with 22 percent heading to Germany, 16 percent to the UK and 12 percent to Spain.

In 2012 and 2013, less than 5,000 Bulgarians living abroad decided to move back home, compared to 2015, when more than 10,000 returned.

The institute says that a record number of Bulgarians - more than 13,000 - have decided to return to their native country last year.

While still the poorest country in the EU with negative demographics and low wages, Bulgaria's economy is actually improving and many international businesses have opened offices in the big cities and are looking to recruit specialists.

Hristo Boyadzhiev believes that capable Bulgarian workers need more information about the opportunities their home country has to offer.

He is one of the organisers of a career fair, aimed at Bulgarians who have either studied or worked abroad.

He says here workers with language skills and experience from abroad can develop much faster.

"What one receives in Bulgaria compared to England as a complete package and not just the salary number is very competitive. It's something that allows for a great life in Bulgaria", Boyadzhiev says.

Forum "Career in Bulgaria - Why not?" takes place in the capital Sofia for the 11th year in a row.

Over 1,500 applicants attended Thursday's event, where they could talk to representatives of more than 100 companies, receive help with their CVs, network and meet others who have either recently returned from living abroad or are thinking about it.

According to the organisers, most of the attendees are Bulgarians with experience in Germany or the United Kingdom.

Karolina Dacheva is an aviation engineer who studied and worked for 6 years in Bristol.

She moved back to Bulgaria earlier this year and lists Brexit as one of the main reasons for her decision.

Martin Kelchev has been living in the UK for the last 10 years.

The financial analyst considers whether he should return to Bulgaria and is currently attending careers fairs to explore job opportunities.

He says Brexit won't be a problem for him as he does have the right to stay and work in the UK.

"But the fact that the UK is leaving a union that we Bulgarians are trying to take an active part in does matter.", Kelchev says.

Gergana Patceva is currently finishing her MBA in London and is also thinking about moving back home after 5 years in Britain.

Within her environment, she hasn't felt a different attitude since the referendum she says she has friends who feel "disappointed" and "undervalued".

Sofia, Bulgaria - 20 September 2018

1. Mid of Sofia Airport sign

2. Various of airplanes taking off

3. Wide of Ryanair airplane at Sofia Airport

4. Mid of people arriving at Sofia Airport

5. Close of International Arrivals sign

6. Close of Arrivals board which lists a flight from London Heathrow

7. Wide of panel discussion at "Career in Bulgaria - Why Not?"

8. Wide of attendees clapping at panel discussion end

9. Wide of attendees at "Career in Bulgaria - Why Not?"

10. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Hristo Boyadjiev, co-founder of "Career in Bulgaria - Why Not?"

"Currently a specialist well-educated in the West with work experience can find a great starting position that offers many opportunities for development. As it stands, what one receives in Bulgaria - compared to England as a complete package and not just the salary number - is very competitive. Something that allows for a great life in Bulgaria."

11. Close of Hristo Boyadjiev's hands

12. Wide of Hristo Boyadjiev at "Career in Bulgaria - Why Not?"

13. Various of attendees at "Career in Bulgaria - Why Not?"

14. Close of Karolina Dacheva's hands

15. Mid of Karolina Dacheva in a discussion at "Career in Bulgaria - Why Not?"

16. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Karolina Dacheva, aviation engineer who's recently returned from the UK

"The seeds for my decision were sown when I joined a team that was predominantly made out of local English people that were very proactive for Brexit and from the very beginning, I was told that everything is OK and that they don't mind that I am a foreigner and welcome people from abroad joining them, which made me feel strange as up to that point, I had never felt different in England."

17. Close of Martin Kelchev's hands

18. Mid of Martin Kelchev in a discussion at "Career in Bulgaria - Why Not?"

19. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Martin Kelchev, financial analyst thinking about permanently moving back to Bulgaria:

"There might be emotions involved, I am not sure if it is baseless or not but the fact that the UK is leaving a union that we Bulgarians are trying to take an active part in, does matter."

20. Close of Gergana Patceva's hands

21. Mid of Gergana Patceva in a discussion at "Career in Bulgaria - Why Not?"

22. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Gergana Patceva, MBA student in London considering coming back to Bulgaria

"I can't say that the attitude influences me but at the same time I have friends that are left disappointed and feel… I don't know… they feel undervalued."

23. Attendees at "Career in Bulgaria - Why Not?"

There was a mixed response on the streets of Rome on Saturday to the deal struck in Brussels on Britain's new relationship with the European Union.

While some are concerned that a possible "Brexit" could lead to fewer job opportunities for young people, others say the renegotiation with Britain has created a dangerous precedent for other countries.

The deal offers guarantees to the nine EU countries, including Britain, that do not use the shared euro currency, that they will not be sidelined, and makes tweaks aimed at giving national parliaments more power.

After the deal was reached, it was announced on Saturday that a UK referendum on EU membership will be held on 23 June.

There was a mixed response on the streets of Rome on Saturday to the deal struck in Brussels on Britain's new relationship with the European Union.

While some are concerned that a possible "Brexit" could lead to fewer job opportunities for young people, others say the renegotiation with Britain has created a dangerous precedent for other countries.

The deal offers guarantees to the nine EU countries, including Britain, that do not use the shared euro currency, that they will not be sidelined, and makes tweaks aimed at giving national parliaments more power.

After the deal was reached, it was announced on Saturday that a UK referendum on EU membership will be held on 23 June.

Rome - 20 February 2016

1. Exterior of Colosseum

2. Italian flag

3. Traffic in central Rome

4. People walking

5. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Veronica Ferro, Rome resident:

"I think it is important in any case that England (meaning UK) stays in the European Union for everyone of us, because this is a chance for young people in Europe, who want to go there to find a job, because in Italy there are no jobs."

6. People walking

7. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Fausto Morgantini, Rome resident:

"I hope that the fact that they (European Union) accepted the condition of London, will not create a legal precedent for other countries and therefore a dangerous situation in which countries claim these kinds of rights and could lead to a disintegration, not to a union."

8. Family riding a bike

9. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Caterina Canna, Rome resident:

"I hope that this agreement works for every country. They should be more interested in the wellness of the whole European Union than a single country's interest."

10. People taking photo

12. Carabinieri (military police) car patrolling

14. Altare della Patria memorial, central Rome

For a glimpse at President Emmanuel Macron's vision for the new French economy, look no farther than Station F.

Entrepreneurs don virtual reality goggles and share ideas with business angels in this old Paris train station-turned-startup incubator.

The buzzing business center founded by telecom tycoon Xavier Niel hosts over 3,500 people, all hoping to see some of the 1,000 startups based here bloom into a global firm capable of competing with Silicon Valley behemoths.

It's part of what Macron hopes is a fundamental shift in the French economy, which confirmed this week that it's back on the upswing after years of stagnation.

Niel, who revolutionized telecoms in France in the early 2000s, says young startup entrepreneurs look at Macron's meteoric rise to the presidency and think: "You can be president when you are 39 years old. You were nobody 2 or 3 years ago. ... can't I create the biggest startup in the world by starting now? A guy can become the French president so can't I create something big, alone, when I'm 25 or 30 years old?"

With the support of Mayor Anne Hidalgo and then-President François Hollande, Niel founded Station F in 2017 to bring together young and eager startup managers, financial players and key public institutions in an effort to develop France's budding tech ecosystem.

The vast space hums with energy and electronic devices, as its mostly youthful workers take breaks around multi-colored sofas, or bounce ideas off each other in shared meeting rooms.

Station F includes people from multiple countries, including China and Israel, and Niel is notably keen to attract talented people looking to leave London as Brexit looms.

"We need to create – we need these startups to build tomorrow's big companies and to do that we need to attract talents from as many places as possible," Niel, CEO of Iliad and founder of renewed coding school 42, told The Associated Press.

Among entrepreneurs thriving off Station F's atmosphere is 45-year old Gildas Dussauze, who founded virtual reality social platform VRTUOZ just under three years ago and spends most of his waking hours in search of clients and cash to finally start paying his staff of six.

"The combination of Station F and Macron, yes, it has turned France's image upside down, in a good way. It's an image of audacity, youth, enthusiasm and that's good," he told The AP.

Not everything is perfect _ Dussauze said France's banking bureaucracy "is not in sync with startups."

But Station F includes representatives from French institutions like the public postal service La Poste and employment office Pole Emploi, in an effort to make startups a more integral part of the national economy.

Dussauze says they "are very dynamic and have completely changed the way they talk to us and have adapted to our needs."

Macron's election last May, his relentless public relations campaign to put France back onto the world map of innovation and a changing business environment have fueled a quick shift in the country's image.

France's economy grew 1.9 percent in 2017, its highest level since 2011, according to figures released Tuesday. That's partly because of Macron but also because of an improving climate Europe-wide and measures taken under his predecessor.

Still, Macron has boosted investor confidence. The state statistics agency's business confidence indicator hit its highest point in a decade in December, across multiple sectors.

The startup sector remains a relatively small piece of the French economy but Macron, Niel and the residents of Station F are banking on it to grow.

Macron, who visited Station F last month, is notably trying to shake up labour laws that had favored big, traditional firms and made it difficult for small businesses to set up, hire and lay off workers when markets shift. He also abolished the wealth tax, to the joy of magnates like Niel and anger of the left-wing opposition.

"During the campaign, he was really pro-start-ups, pro-business and by having him as president it helps this ecosystem we have in Paris," Niel said. "Now, from a global point of view and in any country you can go, people are always talking about Macron being elected and how it's a big change for France."

Paris - 24 January 2018

1. Tracking shot of Xavier Niel inside Station F start-up incubator and wide of meeting underway in shared office space

2. Tilt-down of Station F

3. Focus rack of Station F outside neon sign

4. Wide of Oculus stand in Station F atrium

5. Close of sign on stand of Facebook start-up 'garage'

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Xavier Niel, Founder of Station F incubator and CEO of Iliad group:

"It helps with the image of having a young President. It helps by the success of young entrepreneurs and it's really simple: you need to give a good example and by having a President who is 39 years old when you are 20 or 25 years old… ok! You can be President when you are 39 years old. You were nobody 2 or 3 years ago. Nobody knew you and now you're the French President? But why me, can't I create the biggest start-up in the world by starting now? A guy can become the French President, why I can't create something big, alone, when I'm 25 or 30 years old?"

Paris - 11 December, 2017

8. Various of French President Emmanuel Macron visiting Station F and meeting with entrepreneurs

Paris - 24 January 2018

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Xavier Niel, Founder of Station F incubator and CEO of Iliad group:

"He's really pro-business and he was elected by… during the campaign, he was very pro-start-ups, pro-business and by having him as President it helps a lot this ecosystem we have in Paris, the start-up ecosystem we have. Also, this place is helping this ecosystem and now, from a global point of view and in any country you can go, people are always talking about Macron being elected and how it's a big change for France. It's not only a symbol, it's also the truth because he passed laws about work, about many things, about taxes… He killed the wealth tax which was a crazy thing we used to have in France so he did many things to change completely the image but not only the image, the things that people in business used to have in France."

10. Mid of Niel at talk with journalists

11. Wide of conference room with Niel talking to journalists

12. SOUNDBITE (French) Xavier Niel, Founder of Station F incubator and CEO of Iliad group

"We need to create – we need these start-ups to build tomorrow's big companies and to do that we need to attract talents from as many places as possible. Anything that might happen at a local level in another country like Brexit and the political turmoil in the UK today, brings us, in the end, talents that we need."

13. Mid of Niel during talk

14. Mid of breakroom with coloured sofas

15. Mid of shared meeting room

Paris - 29 January 2018

16. Wide of Gildas Dussauze putting on Virtual Reality goggles in Station F atrium

17. Tracking shot of Dussauze with goggles on

18. SOUNDBITE (French) Gildas Dussauze, Founder of VR social platform Virtuoz

"When you talk with people from the outside, their view is different and the combination of Station F and Macron, yes, it has turned France's image upside down, in a good way. It's an image of audacity, youth, enthusiasm and that's good."

19. Close of French Tech Central logo with Dussauze in foreground

20. SOUNDBITE (French) Gildas Dussauze, Founder of VR social platform Virtuoz

"I haven't had to experience the bureaucratic part except with banks but that's not an issue of the French administration it's an issue with the old banking bureaucracy that I think needs to be remodeled and is not in sync with start-ups. Apart from that, no. Here, the French institutions that are present here like (public postal service) La Poste and (Employment office) Pôle Emploi are very dynamic and have completely changed the way they talk to us and have adapted to our needs."

21. Mid of Dussauze with goggles on

22. Wide of exterior of Station F