Commenting on the Chancellor’s speech at the Conservative
Party Conference, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the
British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:
“After a period where many in business have felt that their
concerns have not been centre stage in Westminster, firms will be
heartened by the Chancellor’s forthright support for business as
the foundation of both a strong economy and a strong society. It
is right to champion the positive role that businesses play, day
in and day out, across our communities – a role that has recently
been overlooked by politicians of all colours.
“While ’s tone is encouraging, he
must go further. His upcoming Budget must deliver bold action to
boost investment and confidence at precisely the moment that our
business communities need it most. As we move towards the UK’s
departure from the EU, there’s never been a more important time
for the government to pull out all the stops to get businesses
investing and growing.”
On the Chancellor’s announcements on productivity and
business support, Marshall said:
“The Chancellor’s focus on improving productivity is welcome, and
Chambers stand ready to work with ministers to help more firms
achieve their potential. The government must do its part too –
and address the constraints that hold back far too many of our
firms. Getting the basics right, from education and training to
fixing roads and patchy broadband, would do more to help increase
competitiveness and efficiency than just about any other
measure.”
On the Chancellor’s announcements regarding
apprenticeship reforms, Marshall said:
“We have spent months pushing ministers to make practical changes
to the way the apprenticeship levy works, and these measures are
an important step in the right direction. However, the review
announced by the Chancellor must introduce greater flexibility to
the apprenticeship system, to ensure that businesses of all sizes
can find and train the workforce they need.
“The Chancellor is right to heed our calls for large firms to be
allowed transfer unused levy funds down to smaller firms in their
supply chain, helping more SMEs to access high quality
apprenticeships and close the growing skills gap. The government
should go even further in the long-term, and allow levy-payers to
transfer 50% of their funds, so that more companies in complex
supply chains can train their people and boost productivity.
“Ministers also need to urgently address the issues faced by
smaller firms, not just by the bigger levy-payers. SMEs may not
be paying the levy, but they have faced higher recruitment costs
and great difficult accessing the right training in recent
months. Ending the 10% co-investment that SMEs now have to pay
would encourage more firms to take on and train new talent.”
