Rotherham businesses call for Budget boost

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has published its new Quarterly Economic Forecast, downgrading its prediction for UK GDP growth in 2012 to 0.6 per cent from 0.8 per cent—lower than GDP growth in 2011 of 0.8 per cent.

Andrew Denniff, executive director of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, said that there were challenges ahead and called for the Government to help businesses in the Budget in two weeks’ time.

“Our region still faces serious challenges and growth will be slow in 2012, but we believe a recession can be avoided,” he said,

“The Chamber’s forecast underlines the need for the forthcoming Budget to give some degree of confidence to businesses, it must support businesses to drive the growth agenda.

“Businesses across the city region are doing their utmost to find new markets and grow their firms, despite the difficult economic challenges they face.

“Only the private sector will drive recovery and help deliver public services, like education, healthcare and pensions.

“A sustainable recovery depends on creating the right conditions to empower businesses to drive growth and we need the best possible environment to generate wealth and create jobs.

“We will look towards measures in the Budget that will encourage firms to export, invest and grow; with real de-regulation, a simply easy-to-use planning system, improving the flow of credit to firms, and improving our lacklustre infrastructure and skills.”

The BCC believes that a double-dip recession will be avoided, but that the Chancellor must support businesses to drive growth in the UK.