Healey pledges to ‘draw line’ under rising business costs in push for growth

Chancellor John Healey has announced that he plans to “draw a line” under rising business costs as part of a push for growth. Fran Barnes, chief executive officer of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) thinks the UK needs a Budget that backs investment.

She said: “The question for this Budget is not simply what the government can give to horticulture. It is what horticulture can deliver for the country if the government creates the conditions for businesses to invest, employ people and grow.

“Environmental horticulture helps cool our towns and cities, manage flood risk, support healthier communities and create places where people want to live, work and invest. Recognising green infrastructure as critical infrastructure is not just good for our sector; it is an investment in economic resilience, public health and long-term growth.

“Environmental horticulture is a sector ready to invest in people, technology, UK production and climate resilience, but businesses cannot do that while they are facing another layer of costs and uncertainty. An additional £134 million a year in employment costs, alongside rising business rates, energy costs and regulatory pressures, means money that could be creating jobs, building skills and driving innovation is instead being absorbed by the cost of doing business.

“The Chancellor has an opportunity to change that. We need a Budget that backs investment, not just consumption, and gives businesses the confidence to grow. If businesses can invest, the benefits reach far beyond horticulture.”