Copy article

Small businesses and the Autumn Statement

Journalist: Rachel Mortimer, The Times and Sunday Times

ended 22. November 2023

Hello! The Times and Sunday Times are keen to speak with small business owners following the Autumn Statement tomorrow on any policy changes which might affect them. 

We are keen to hear from entrepreneurs and business owners on what changes they would like to see. If these are announced (or not) by the Chancellor tomorrow we would be keen to have a quick chat in the afternoon.  Case studies will need to be happy to be named and pictured. 

Please do get in touch! Thanks very much, Rachel 

5 responses from the Newspage community

Copy all

Copy

Editor
Samuel Mather-Holgate
Independent Financial Adviser at Mather and Murray Financial
Businesses want tax cuts that effect how much they can invest and grow, not cuts to inheritance tax on small changes to the personal allowance. National insurance and corporation tax need to be cut now, during this period of pressure for British business, it will make a real difference to jobs and the economy.
Copy

Legend
Jenny Blyth
Small business owner at Storm in a Teacup Gifts
In an ideal world this chancellor would resign but I want to see more attention paid to the micro businesses and helping us stay alive.
We need to focus on bringing business back to the high street, bringing down living costs to enable more local custom.

Happy to talk!
Copy

Ian Farrar
Managing Director at Far North
This year I co-founded The Micro Business Alliance. We represent and celebrate the importance of over 5 million values-based microbusinesses.

95% of private sector businesses in the UK are micro. Government needs to recognise that micro businesses aren't like big businesses but smaller.
The constant use of the term SME again does not include businesses with 0-9 employees.
We aim to ensure microbiz is no longer treated as the Cinderellas of the business world and is at the fore of Government planning and decision-making.
Microbiz should never again be discriminated against purely based on the number of employees, turnover, length of time established, or structure.

The Levelling Up agenda requires infrastructure and investment in the most deprived areas of the country, yet it must be acknowledged that cities, towns and villages will never flourish without the bedrock of thriving microbusinesses that bring character and diversity to localities in addition to supporting economic growth
Copy

Legend
Racheal Straughan
Founder at Mayfli
It's disheartening to witness the decline of our once vibrant high streets and the struggles of small businesses online. Government intervention is crucial. Exorbitant business rates suffocate local enterprises, leading to closures and empty storefronts. To revive our high streets, we need a significant reduction in business rates. Online marketplaces like Temu and Shein, should not be allowed to trade in the UK, small businesses can not compete against their prices, encouraging a harmful throwaway culture. Small businesses can't compete. Additionally, foreign marketplaces evade taxes, posing a threat to our local economy. The government must ensure fair competition by regulating these platforms and enforcing tax contributions. In summary, urgent policy changes, reduced business rates, and stringent regulations for online marketplaces are essential to revive our high streets and protect local businesses.
Copy

John Lamerton
Small Business Author at Big Ideas... for Small Businesses
When Rishi Sunak met with Elon Musk earlier this month, the tech billionaire told the PM: “There should be a bias towards supporting small companies". In today's Autumn Statement, we've seen the complete opposite - a £9bn tax loophole for huge firms, a £3.45 token gesture for the self-employed, and nothing for most small businesses - especially those whose greatest expenditure is staff.