Key issues local businesses highlighted to Buckinghamshire Business First (BBF) in September 2024 included:
Trading conditions:
- There is a growing concern amongst business owners regarding potential announcements in the October 2024 budget. Concerns include potential tax raises and changes to employment laws, which is leading to a reluctance to invest.
- Whilst falling interest rates are welcomed, concerns remain regarding wage demands, energy costs and consumer spending.
Growth Challenges:
- The length of time taken to determine planning applications has been cited by several businesses as a significant barrier to their growth.
Net Zero:
- Businesses are continuing to actively seek grants for financial support in acquiring low carbon technologies (e.g. solar, LEDs, insulation etc.) as they try to transition to net zero emissions.
BBF use this 'on-the-ground' intelligence to inform local business support activity, and share it with central government on a monthly basis to inform national policy.
