Business leaders welcome Budget news

Andrew Denniff, executive director of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, said announcements from Chancellor George Osborne about support for apprenticeships and other steps aimed at helping business were encouraging.

“I was pleased to see the that our call to focus on employment within the 16- to 24-year-old group was heard,” he said.

“But we still need to do more work on overcoming the confidence gap and invest more in young people, with more apprenticeships and the creation of more jobs, which are critical with more than 900,000 under 25’s still out of work.

“The Chancellor’s announcements on investment, exports, house-building and creating sustainable growth are welcome.

“Creating a better business environment has to be our top priority. Successful and confident companies are the key to growth and lasting jobs.

“Most of his business orientated proposals are good enough given the current circumstances, but there has to be a long-term emphasis on continued business support and nurturing what for us in this region is still a fragile and sensitive recovery.”

Mr Denniff said business leaders should keep an eye on Mr Osborne and hold him to account.

He added: “The real task for businesses, and this underlines the role that Chambers of Commerce have across the country, is to ensure that the Chancellor is kept true to his word and that the proposals are implemented as soon as is practicable and that any support packages are easily accessed and made available as efficiently as possible.”

A chamber spokesman said they welcomed extra lending to firms who are promoting exports and “tangible announcements” on reducing the burden of energy bills on some manufacturing firms.

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