{"id":2161992,"date":"2026-10-23T07:00:58","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T06:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thebusinessdesk.com\/yorkshire\/?p=2161992"},"modified":"2026-10-22T10:10:31","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T09:10:31","slug":"this-years-autumn-budget-must-make-it-easier-for-britains-small-businesses-to-grow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thebusinessdesk.com\/yorkshire\/news\/2161992-this-years-autumn-budget-must-make-it-easier-for-britains-small-businesses-to-grow","title":{"rendered":"This year’s autumn budget must make it easier for Britain’s small businesses to grow"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Oliver Corrigan, Managing Director of WorkWell<\/u><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“As someone who works closely with small businesses every day, I see first-hand the ambition they have to grow, create jobs and take their businesses to the next level.<\/p>\n

“But I also see how the costs and commitments that come with growth can make taking that next step more difficult. Businesses need the confidence and flexibility to invest in their future.<\/p>\n

“I’m keen for this year’s Autumn Budget to make it easier for Britain’s small businesses to take that next step in their growth journey. It’s been encouraging to see the government place business growth at the centre of the economic agenda; however, we need to focus on what happens next if that ambition is to translate into more jobs and higher productivity.<\/p>\n

“For example, ONS data has highlighted that vacancies at businesses with 1 to 9 employees have fallen by 23.5%, suggesting that smaller businesses may be holding back from recruitment because of the cost of employing people. For these smaller firms, the decision to hire isn\u2019t simply about whether there is enough work to justify another pair of hands, it’s also about whether they can afford the additional costs and commitments that come with bringing someone into the business.<\/p>\n

“I’d like to see the Budget support these employment opportunities for businesses and allow them to prioritise growing their teams. The Employment Allowance recognises the impact employment costs can have on SMEs, which is welcome, but there is an opportunity to go further in helping businesses manage the financial pressures that come with taking on new employees. Making it easier to recruit would give businesses greater confidence to invest in their people, respond to demand and build for the future, rather than delaying growth because the upfront costs feel too great.<\/p>\n

“The government has also acknowledged that business rates should not penalise companies simply because they’re growing or expanding. As businesses take on more employees, they also need the flexibility to adapt their workspace as their needs change. For smaller businesses in particular, where future headcount can be difficult to predict, flexibility can make it easier to grow without taking on unnecessary long-term costs.<\/p>\n

“Working in the serviced office sector, I see this growth journey for SMEs every day. We have businesses start with us with one or two employees, then six months later require another three desks, and perhaps four years after that require space for twenty people. That progression, that reminder, that growth rarely follows a perfectly predictable timeline. Businesses don’t always know how many people they will need to employ in a few years’ time and they don’t necessarily want to commit to a long-term commercial lease before they know what the future holds. Flexible workspace should therefore be viewed as more than a property product and as part of the infrastructure that enables small businesses to grow, adapt and create jobs.<\/p>\n

\u201cUltimately, the Autumn Budget should recognise that supporting business growth means looking at the practical realities of running and expanding a company, not just setting out ambitions for the economy. By helping SMEs manage the costs of recruitment and expansion, and giving them greater flexibility as their needs evolve, the government can help more businesses take that next step with confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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