Healey’s first UK budget ‘does not go far enough’ with help for small businesses – IGA

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has expressed disappointment at the new UK chancellor John Healey’s first budget. The government had promoted the autumn budget as business-friendly and has introduced a variety of measures designed to help across various commercial sectors. However, the IGA said the announcement has offered precious little support to independent garages, which the association says fall outside the purview of the measures announced to support small businesses.

Stuart James, chief executive of the IGA said: “Having heard all the rhetoric about this being a budget for growth and for businesses big and small, the reality is that the budget does not go far enough to alleviate independent garages from the financial constraints that have been placed upon them following consecutive budgets that have hammered small businesses.

“We are disappointed that small, independent and family-run garage businesses still find themselves burdened by disproportionate economic pressures, and this budget was light on support for businesses who the Government expect to drive growth within their local postcode.

“Whilst we welcome the Government increasing the threshold at which business rates are chargeable from £12,000 to £18,000 – this is limited to retail, hospitality and leisure businesses. Many independent garages, despite being customer-facing high street businesses, will not fall into this category.”

Continuation of ‘disappointing’ trend

James added that the budget continues to offer little in terms of growth support, in addition to failing to assist with spiralling costs. “Today continues the trend of disappointing budgets from an independent garage owners’ point of view. We have seen very little tangible support from the Chancellor in today’s budget announcement with no motivation for growth or the recruitment of young people.

“Whilst there has been a willingness from Government to increase cost burdens across recent budgets, we have seen no willingness to address the MOT fee which has now remained frozen since 2010.

“Despite several references to providing breathing space to businesses, there was very little contained within the budget that will offer any form of immediate relief to independent garages.”

The IGA added that it would continue to examine the budget is underway to assess its full impact on the sector.