Budget treats and lifelines for enterprises get thumbs up  

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) national chairman Mike Cherry applauded how the FSB’s recommendations for high streets, apprenticeship training costs, freezing the VAT threshold and maintaining the Employment Allowance had been listened to, saying:                                                                  

“The Chancellor’s decision to freeze the £85,000 turnover threshold for VAT registration until 2022 has saved the business community from disaster.   

Complying with the burdensome Value Added Tax (VAT) regime costs the average small registered business a working week every year. That’s time that should be spent growing their firms.

Suddenly dragging more small firms into the burdensome VAT system would have risked a real shock to the economy at an uncertain time. 

“Dropping the proportion of apprenticeship training costs footed by small firms from 10 per cent to five is a much-needed development which should go some way to arresting the shocking decline in apprenticeship starts. If we want parity of esteem between vocational and academic routes into the workplace, we need to incentivise small firms to take on apprentices. 

“The Employment Allowance is a vital incentive that’s helped more than a million small firms create jobs, increase pay and invest over the last year alone. It’s good to see the Government keeping the allowance in place, directing it towards the small employers where it has the most impact.  

“This Government’s relationship with the self-employed community has been a mixed one. However, the Chancellor has rightly responded to our calls for greater funding for training within the self-employed community. We look forward to delivering the £10 million self-employment training pilot scheme announced today in Manchester.

JOB CENTRE: Employment Allowance (Image: Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

“It’s good to see that the New Enterprise Allowance programme will be continued. This initiative has helped more than 100,000 unemployed people start firms. It’s exactly the kind of programme that a pro-business government should unequivocally support.

“As is the Start-Up Loans company, so it’s good to see the Government extending funding for this crucial part of the British Business Bank. Equally, it’s encouraging to see the Government starting to address the many aspects of Universal Credit that do not work for the self-employed. Far more action is needed in this space.    

“Extension of the IR35 rule changes that have taken place in the public sector to the private sphere must be handled with caution. Careful consideration must be given over the next two years as to how this potentially damaging roll-out should be managed. The flexibility of our workforce is one of our economy’s greatest strengths – one that should be protected.

“Small businesses on our high streets that cannot get Small Business Rate Relief will be delighted with the significant discount for the next two years, which on average will help these businesses to the tune of almost £2,000 each, but potentially up to around £16,000 off small businesses facing the biggest bills. 

“Our creaking infrastructure is holding back too many small firms – draining their productivity and preventing them from joining the digital revolution. Nine in ten small businesses say a properly funded road network is important to their success.

“Crucially, they want to see to see a greater focus on ensuring local roads are fit for purpose. The £420 million of new funding dedicated to tackling the scourge of pot holes is an important intervention. Pot holes are a menace to small business owners and shoppers alike, and we look forward to more funds heading in this direction.

“A further fuel duty freeze will also provide welcome relief for small firms who rely on road transport, particularly as the cost of petrol has surged over the last year.”    

Support to small businesses (Image: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images)

Highlighting the uncertain backdrop to this year’s statement and the positive signals countering this, Dr Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), commented: 

“In an atmosphere of unprecedented uncertainty and heightened political noise, the Chancellor has demonstrated that he is listening to business concerns by delivering a Budget that supports investment and growth.

“The Chancellor responded directly to the BCC’s calls for bold incentives to turbo-charge business investment, for steps to support high street businesses struggling with business rates, and for measures that cut the cost of apprenticeships for SMEs. 

Philip Hammond, U.K. chancellor of the exchequer, holds the dispatch box containing the budget (Image: Luke MacGregor/Bloomberg/ GETTY)

“Philip Hammond has sent important and positive signals to businesses across the UK, many of whom have been wavering on investment and hiring. Crucially, the Chancellor has avoided major increases to business tax to fund the government’s spending priorities, which would have undermined the confidence boost to firms from his commitments to supporting enterprise and growth. 

“We are delighted that the Chancellor has boosted the Annual Investment Allowance to £1million. This will be a huge shot in the arm for businesses across the country, giving many thousands of firms renewed confidence to invest and grow. 

“While today’s Budget measures were largely positive for business, the final and most important piece of the jigsaw is a comprehensive Brexit deal that gives firms the clarity and precision they need. The pro-business measures announced in the Budget will only yield their greatest possible results when paired with a Brexit deal that delivers certainty on the UK’s future terms of trade beyond March 2019.”

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