No Result
View All Result
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
Smart Investment Today
  • News
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
  • Investing
  • Stock
  • News
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
  • Investing
  • Stock
No Result
View All Result
Smart Investment Today
No Result
View All Result
Home Investing

Business reaction to Reeves’s spring statement: confidence remains fragile as costs rise and support lags

by
March 26, 2025
in Investing
0
Business reaction to Reeves’s spring statement: confidence remains fragile as costs rise and support lags
0
SHARES
10
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her 2025 spring statement today, outlining £14 billion in cuts to restore the UK’s fiscal headroom and committing £2.2 billion in defence investment.

While the measures are aimed at tackling Britain’s debt and boosting economic resilience, business leaders have voiced concern that the statement did little to support growth, especially among the UK’s SMEs and entrepreneurial community.

Theo Chatha, CFO at Bibby Financial Services, described the statement as “a huge disappointment” for small and medium-sized enterprises, saying: “We know 87% of SME business leaders are eager to invest, and nearly half were deferring major investment decisions until after today’s statement. Will SMEs feel more confident after today’s announcements? Likely not,” he said.

Chatha warned of a continued “wait and see” approach, with businesses delaying spending on machinery, tech and recruitment — risking further economic stagnation. He added that rising business rates and National Insurance contributions, combined with the lack of SME-specific support, marked this as “a missed opportunity.”

Julian Mulhare, Managing Director, EMEA at Searce, welcomed the government’s commitment to digital transformation within the public sector but warned that simply investing in tech won’t solve deep-rooted inefficiencies. Mulhare, commented: “Tech alone won’t solve the problem. Too many organisations still plan in five-year cycles that can’t keep up with innovation, or dive in without clear goals. Real transformation starts with process first, technology second — focusing on scalable, interoperable solutions that support how people actually work.”

Dr Marc Warner, CEO of AI firm Faculty, was more direct in his assessment, stating: “With anaemic growth since 2008, the Chancellor must realise tinkering around the margins will not arrest the UK’s economic slump. The path to reviving our economy will be paved by technology — and AI is now widely recognised as the most important of our time.”

Adebola Babatunde, Financial Planning Director at Rathbones, said the Spring Statement failed to inspire confidence among entrepreneurs.

“With over 10,000 millionaires reportedly leaving the country last year, today’s statement could have been a pivotal moment to reverse the trend and cultivate a thriving ecosystem for innovation and growth. Instead, it felt like a missed opportunity to energise the entrepreneurial community.”

Genevieve Morris, Head of Corporate Tax, took issue with the Chancellor’s claim that working people aren’t footing the bill for increased NICs.

“Show me an employer in the UK that is not critically reviewing their costs of employment and making decisions on headcount or recruitment as a result,” she said.

“If you increase the costs on a business, they will increase prices and/or make cost reductions. That £500 average household benefit won’t go far when we’re paying £50 for a pint of milk.”

Brendan Callan, CEO of trading platform Tradu, criticised the lack of action on share trading stamp duty — an issue many in the finance sector had lobbied on.

“Stamp duty is a tax that increases costs and makes UK markets less competitive, driving retail investors toward lower-cost markets like the US. By scrapping it, the Chancellor could have boosted investor participation and strengthened UK capital markets. Without that action, the UK risks falling further behind global peers.”

As the UK faces slow growth and fiscal constraints, business leaders remain cautious. While there was broad support for tech investment and AI-led public sector reform, the absence of meaningful incentives for SMEs, investors and entrepreneurs leaves questions over whether today’s statement will be enough to restore confidence and ignite economic momentum.

Read more:
Business reaction to Reeves’s spring statement: confidence remains fragile as costs rise and support lags

Previous Post

How These Seven Smart Design Choices in Your Office Support Business Growth

Next Post

A Guide to Implementing Cisco into Your Business Operations

Next Post

A Guide to Implementing Cisco into Your Business Operations

    Become a VIP member by signing up for our newsletter. Enjoy exclusive content, early access to sales, and special offers just for you! As a VIP, you'll receive personalized updates, loyalty rewards, and invitations to private events. Elevate your experience and join our exclusive community today!


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    • Trending
    • Comments
    • Latest

    Gold Prices Rise as the Dollar Slowly Dies

    May 25, 2024

    Richard Murphy, The Bank of England, And MMT Confusion

    March 15, 2025

    We Can’t Fix International Organizations like the WTO. Abolish Them.

    March 15, 2025

    Free Markets Promote Peaceful Cooperation and Racial Harmony

    March 15, 2025
    Green energy tariffs fall to five-year low as UK households prioritise cost

    Green energy tariffs fall to five-year low as UK households prioritise cost

    0

    Ana-Maria Coaching Marks Milestone with New Book Release

    0

    The Consequences of California’s New Minimum Wage Law

    0

    Memorial Day

    0
    Green energy tariffs fall to five-year low as UK households prioritise cost

    Green energy tariffs fall to five-year low as UK households prioritise cost

    August 4, 2025
    UK high street banks lose £100bn in savings as customers chase better rates online

    UK high street banks lose £100bn in savings as customers chase better rates online

    August 4, 2025
    Millions of UK drivers could receive £950 each in car finance compensation scheme

    Millions of UK drivers could receive £950 each in car finance compensation scheme

    August 4, 2025

    Here’s Best Way To watch Dead & Company Livestreams Free from Golden Gate Park

    August 3, 2025

    Recent News

    Green energy tariffs fall to five-year low as UK households prioritise cost

    Green energy tariffs fall to five-year low as UK households prioritise cost

    August 4, 2025
    UK high street banks lose £100bn in savings as customers chase better rates online

    UK high street banks lose £100bn in savings as customers chase better rates online

    August 4, 2025
    Millions of UK drivers could receive £950 each in car finance compensation scheme

    Millions of UK drivers could receive £950 each in car finance compensation scheme

    August 4, 2025

    Here’s Best Way To watch Dead & Company Livestreams Free from Golden Gate Park

    August 3, 2025
    • About us
    • Contacts
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Copyright © 2025 smartinvestmenttoday.com | All Rights Reserved

    No Result
    View All Result
    • News
    • Economy
    • Editor’s Pick
    • Investing
    • Stock

    Copyright © 2025 smartinvestmenttoday.com | All Rights Reserved