Chamber outlines Autumn Budget asks for new government

Investment in skills, reform of business rates and a strengthened trade strategy are among six key asks set out by East Midlands Chamber, ahead of the government’s Autumn Statement on 30^th October.

Created in partnership with businesses in the region, East Midlands Chamber’s Budget Submission to the UK Government follows its Manifesto for Growth 2024, released earlier in the year.  The Budget Submission outlines policy recommendations aimed at supporting economic growth, enhancing workforce development and boosting trade and investment in the East Midlands.

Summary of East Midlands Chamber’s six key requests for the government:

1. Skills Investment and Apprenticeship Levy Flexibility
2. Support for the Planning Skills Fund
3. Investment in Transport and Infrastructure
4. Reform of Business Rates and VAT Registration Threshold
5. Strengthened Trade Strategy and Export Finance
6. Investment in Green Growth

East Midlands Chamber Director of Policy and Insight Richard Blackmore said: “30^th October is the day that we all find out what the government will actually do, not just say they might possibly do. The East Midlands faces hurdles blocking growth, yet there are workable, achievable solutions.  We can’t let 30^th October come and go without the government having these six asks that we’ve outlined on the table that would enable the East Midlands to thrive.

“Six out of ten businesses in our region find recruiting the right people difficult, according to our Quarterly Economic Survey.  That can be fixed with investment into skills.  Then there are apprenticeships – great on paper but the Apprenticeship Levy has proved too restrictive for businesses, so that needs to be made more flexible.  As for transport, we have partial electrification of the Midland Main Line, but ‘partial’ isn’t good enough – we need full electrification if we’re going to be a successful region.  Then there’s the outdated business rates system and the broken planning system – that’s painfully slow, yet fixable by training newly graduated planners. That has a cost and it needs investment.

“As 30^th October gets closer, I urge the new government to urgently prioritise the asks set out in our Budget Submission and ensure that the Autumn Statement delivers for the East Midlands and allows the economic growth we need.”

To see East Midlands Chamber’s Budget Submission to the UK Government in full, click here.