Spring Budget 2024 - what do Scottish businesses want to see?

What businesses don't want is uncertainty, short-term political gimmicks or false promises. Small business owners find it hard enough to plan at the best of times, so when Chancellors tinker around with VAT, corporation tax and national insurance rates for political soundbites, it just creates admin and planning challenges. Looking at the bigger picture, anything that can be done to boost consumer confidence will help business owners feel more optimistic. The hospitality sector, in particular, has suffered in Scotland from the combined impact of rising costs, staff shortages and more cautious consumer spending. Finding a balance between boosting the economy and curtailing inflation is not easy, but the government needs to rise to that challenge in this Budget.