I understand international business perfectly well, Zacs. But…
There were only two options on the referendum paper: “Remain” or “Leave”. There were no half solutions, no half in half out, no “Norwegian model”, no “Leave but remain in the Single Market”. Nothing like that at all. The country voted to Leave. The country must now accept that all of the advantages of EU Membership (such that they are) will be lost and all the advantages of leaving will be gained. Only if the EU agrees to retain some aspects of membership by mutual agreement will they be retained. But the UK should not entertain any compromises which involve any conditions being imposed on it which would curtail its right to determine its own affairs. Business in particular (since you mention it) will have to adapt to this new order. Since 80% of UK businesses have no dealings with other EU countries whatsoever, this should not be too difficult. The other 20% will have to sort themselves out. There is no earthly reason, for instance, why a condition of free trade should be the free movement of people. Other countries manage to trade freely with each other perfectly well without it (most would probably laugh at the suggestion) and it is utter nonsense to suggest that the two are interdependent. It has nothing to do with trade and is simply an ideological principle devised by the Euromaniacs in their futile quest for Federal State. If the price of free trade is free movement then the UK should simply say “no thanks, we’ll pay our 4% under WTO rules”.
It really has nothing to do with principles. The country was asked whether it considered the price of EU Membership worth paying and it decided it did not. If the referendum result is to be implemented then leaving means we leave and that’s that.