Spring Statement – Dorset Chamber comment

Ahead of the government’s Spring Statement on 26 March 2025, Dorset Chamber has called on the Chancellor to give business the support it needs in the months ahead.
Ian Girling, Dorset Chamber chief executive, said: “We require business friendly policies that will help stimulate growth in light of the brutal employer NI increase, increases in minimum wage, an economy that has flatlined, new employment legislation and a generally very challenging business climate.
“Many businesses in Dorset are feeling very bruised by the government’s economic policies, including the 91% of respondents to our recent survey who said that they were concerned about the NI hike.
“With less than a week from the Spring Statement to the introduction of this vastly unpopular policy in early April, the Chancellor has an opportunity to send a message to the business community and help restore confidence.
“This means business friendly policies such as investment in skills training, digital and physical infrastructure, regeneration of town centres, support for SMEs and further reform of business rates as well as measures to ease the cost of doing business. 
“The Chancellor clearly has some tough challenges to resolve but further burdening business is not the way to achieve economic growth.
“As the voice of business in Dorset we will continue to lobby for the county in the corridors of power at Westminster through the British Chambers of Commerce and encourage the government to shape business friendly policies.
“As the county’s leading business support organisation, we will also continue to help firms weather the economic storm and seize any opportunities which may arise.
“Businesses in Dorset have consistently demonstrated their positivity, resilience and entrepreneurial flair, and could do more with the shackles off.”
ENDS