President's column: Balancing the Budget

So last week we had the road map, this week the Budget, writes Solihull Chamber president Robert Elliot.

At 4.30pm on Wednesday I felt I had a grasp of the details. By 9pm that had gone, and at the time of writing it 's a combination of the two.

What is clear is that a Budget affects people in different ways. Big business, small business and family life all have something in a Budget. From my perspective I look at some of our priorities in Solihull.

Covid recovery is ongoing.

News that the pace of the vaccine roll out will assist faster growth is welcomed. The extension of furlough will ease the worries of many, and the re-start grants will assist businesses closed by Covid.

I do worry that on reopening, if these business struggle to reach capacity quickly they will still not have cashflow to support a larger workforce. I 'm equally concerned that the supply chain will have changed and make re-opening harder.

In terms of the costs to business, the business rate holidays, and vat reductions will certainly help in the short-term. While corporation tax measures loom large in two years ' time, the incentive to offset some of these costs with investment in capital projects could boost regional economies.

Education and the prospects of our young people are never far from my mind. I welcome the increase in allowance for taking apprentices and hope that this will help schools and colleges find opportunities.

I 'd just like to mention and thank everyone involved in this week 's virtual careers fair. Direct action in difficult times.

The EcoPledge remains important and the £15bn investments and in Green Bonds and Carbon Capture projects will help promote activity across our area.

I could not talk in terms of the Budget without mentioning the £50m injection into Arden Cross and the Interchange. Proof that global and national challenges can focus into local gains.

So, you 'll like some of the Budget, you 'll hate some of it too.

Solihull Chamber members have a great opportunity to Support, Connect, and help grow each other 's businesses. The skills are there, some of the support is there, we can all do this together.