Cumbria Chamber urges Government to back business growth in spending review
Cumbria Chamber of Commerce has joined the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and chambers across the UK to urge the Government to put business growth at the centre of its spending plans.
The call comes ahead of Wednesday's Comprehensive Spending Review, which will set out the Government's budget priorities.
Suzanne Caldwell, managing director of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, said: "Wednesday's Comprehensive Spending Review will impact the future shape of our economy for years.
"So the Government can't afford to get this wrong.
"At the end of the day it's businesses that create wealth and growth in our economy.
"So fundamentally the Government needs to put more time, money and effort into supporting business.
"That's a downpayment on our future prosperity."
The chambers have outlined a series of recommendations under three themes: Get Britain Thriving, Get Britain Working, and Get Britain Trading.
These calls focus on improved investment in infrastructure, people, and international trade.
Recommendations include funding for transport and energy projects, better grid connectivity, long-term support for Project Gigabit, and practical help for SMEs to adopt artificial intelligence (AI).
When it comes to getting Britain working, the chambers want more Apprenticeship Levy funding redirected to the Department for Education to boost training, and a broader Youth Guarantee for 18- to 24-year-olds.
The chambers want more employers to be involved in skills planning by extending investment in Local Skills Improvement Plans and addressing gaps in training provision.
On trade, the chambers are calling for investment in 'digital trade', better export support for SMEs, and a stronger pipeline of overseas investment.
The recommendations were developed through consultation between the 51 chambers across the UK, the BCC, and the BCC's Business Council.
They are also backed by research from the BCC's Insights Unit, which gathered feedback from more than 5,000 businesses on the biggest barriers to growth.
Ms Caldwell said: "If the Government wants strong and consistent economic growth, it has to look at three key areas.
"It must promote consistent investment in people, in infrastructure and in trade.
"If it provides the support businesses need to thrive, in an increasingly competitive and protectionist global market, then the future can still be bright."
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