Response to Autumn Statement

David Owen, Chief Executive, GFirst LEP said in response to the George Osborne’s Autumn Statement today:

David Owen, Chief Executive, GFirst LEP said in response to the George Osborne’s Autumn Statement today:

“It’s good news that the Autumn Statement will help further strengthen the local economy by offering a rate relief to small businesses and capping the rate rises to 2%. It is also reassuring to hear that plans to increase fuel duty have been scrapped. We have also welcomed the Government’s commitment to create another 20,000 Apprenticeships over the next two years.

These measures will be welcomed by the local business community to reduce the cost base to further encourage growth and create job opportunities. This follows a timely announcement this week when we announced our partnership with the University of Gloucestershire to boost the development of world-class companies, increase exports and fast-track entrepreneurial start-ups with high growth potential through a proposed new Growth Hub.

Operational from Autumn 2014, the Growth Hub is designed to provide a one-stop approach for businesses to access a diverse range of coordinated and integrated business services from a number of service providers and advisory bodies. Unlike other business support services that are currently available, the plan for the Growth Hub will be to provide a tailored business service for those companies and start-ups with a potential for high growth.”

Download the regional factsheet for the South West, which contains links to infographics, in addition to headline summaries and stats.