UIK businesses with significant EU activity are going to be seriously affected for some considerable time, it's a plain and simple fact.
The company I work for is a multi-national (but UK based) we will be pretty much cutting the UK adrift and maintaining an EU subsidiary to deal with any EU trade (of which there is €millions). We already have subsidiaries in a number of EU countries but I have nothing but sympathy for your friend.
Our head of logistics has just tested positive for covid, too, just to add spice to the mix!!