Business owners react to General Election result

Credit: Creative Commons / RachelH_

Business owners across the East Midlands have been reacting to the seismic Labour victory in yesterday’s General Election.

Bev Wakefield

Bev Wakefield, owner of Vibrant Accountancy, said: “I hope the new Government prioritises the backbone of our economy – and that is: owner-managed businesses. I would love the new Government to do all it can to promote the level of confidence required that will enable businesses to stabilise. They should do this through keeping a tight hold on inflation and bringing about a fair tax regime that helps business owners invest, grow and thrive.

“Governments often refer to owner-managed businesses as being vital for the economy of this country. I would like to see the new Government support this with practicable policies that provide the incentives businesses need to contribute to the country’s economy by providing employment and achieving steady growth.”

Leanne Mordue, director of Derby digital marketing firm, JDR Group, said: “I think this win for Sir Keir Starmer is going to be welcomed by our clients and our industry, because his campaign has been built on change and stability.

“If he is able to deliver that, people will experience the increase in optimism you get when things change and then they will appreciate a period of stability and the kind of steadiness he has been talking about.

“We’ve had nothing but bad things after another for the past few years and that’s created nothing but uncertainty. Even though stability sounds dull, businesses will appreciate a period of calm because it’s more predictable, and that’s good for business.”

Malcolm Prentice, group chairman of rail depot maintenance firm MTMS, based in Moira, Leicestershire, said: “Rail is important to Britain, so I want this new Government to treat it seriously and take time to understand it. I don’t want them to use it as a political grandstanding opportunity, or to ignore it because it’s not an obvious vote winner like the NHS or schools.

Leanne Mordue

“The last Transport Minister who really understood the railways, in my opinion, was Patrick McLoughlin. Now that we have a new government, I hope that whoever is appointed transport minister starts off in the right way.

“No speeches, no instant changes – they need to begin by listening, and listening to the right people, who are the SMEs whose livelihoods truly rely on the rail industry and who rarely, if ever, get a say on their own industry.

“The rail industry needs to change and they are the ones who deserve the chance to help shape the future.”

Dr Selina Ambrose, product manager of Promethean Particles in Nottingham, said: “Seeing a new Government arrive can be a very exciting time. My hopes are that whichever Government is in power will make it a priority to support the UK’s science and technology companies who are doing exciting work to try and tackle the most important environmental issues the world faces today.

“Here at Promethean Particles we are scaling up an exciting class of compounds, called Metal-Organic Frameworks, to industrial volumes and have won significant funding in order to carry out our work. It would be great to see a new Government championing this country’s innovative science and technology companies, both at home and on the world stage.

“During Covid, the world saw what can be achieved when scientists unite and collaborate to address a major global issue, by creating vaccines. Let’s see the new UK Government prioritise its support for science and business to collaborate and make significant impact in tackling climate change, water shortage, and the many other environmental issues facing mankind today.”

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