Partnership not politics ahead of the Budget

“As the Chancellor prepares to deliver the Autumn Budget, many of the businesses at Cornwall Innovation are making one thing clear: they want to see less politics and more delivery. At a recent event hosted by Cornwall Innovation, with guest speaker John Brown, CEO of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, business leaders from Cornwall Innovation Centres came together with a clear message for Number 11: Cornwall’s entrepreneurs, employers and innovators are ready to grow, but government policy still appears to incentivise staying small.

Many of our customers tell us that they want to grow and take on new staff, but the costs of hiring, together with the prospect of enhanced workers’ rights, leave little appetite for investment. The desire is there, but the economy isn’t. There’s also growing frustration surrounding the politics of investment. Businesses are tired of power struggles over who makes decisions. What Cornwall needs now is serious investment in transport and connectivity, construction and procurement reform, skills and digital infrastructure – the foundations of a competitive regional economy. Without these, we can’t expect businesses to scale up, attract talent or compete nationally.

Ultimately, this Budget is an opportunity for the government to show it’s listening to businesses. Gone are the days when Cornish businesses relied on handouts – all they ask for is a sustainable economic platform that allows commercialism to flourish. For real growth, we need partnership, not politics.”

Matt Harrington, Head of Cornwall Innovation Centres