The U.K. government’s decision to publish a series of “technical notices” to encourage firms to prepare for a “no deal” Brexit has underlined fears that leading business and employer groups have about the U.K.’s ability to negotiate an amicable and pragmatic divorce with the European Union.

Neil Hodge is a freelance business journalist and photographer based in Nottingham, United Kingdom. He writes on insurance and risk management, corporate governance, internal audit, compliance, and legal...