Coming slightly later than usual, it feels as though this year’s autumn Budget has been a long time in the making – even more so than usual. With Rachel Reeves faced with the need to make some difficult decisions, speculation and apprehension have only intensified. As a result, day-to-day decision making has stalled while the public and private sectors await a clearer picture of what the future holds.

It was a similar situation in 2024 ahead of the new government’s first autumn Budget in power. The backdrop is different this time around, however, and there was some momentum earlier this year following positive announcements such as the new 10-year infrastructure plan. As important as these fiscal events are, we cannot let them come in the way of continued growth and ambition.