There will be no shortage of talking points after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announces the UK Government’s Spring Forecast on March 3.
Even though Ms Reeves is not expected to make any major fiscal policy announcements, there is likely to be plenty of reaction following the Government’s response to an economic and fiscal forecast which the Office for Budget Responsibility will publish that day.
And with the Government seemingly facing so many barriers in its mission to drive economic growth, there will be plenty of issues to debate when The Herald hosts its latest Budget Briefing the following day.
How can you get involved?
Readers of The Herald have the chance to hear first-hand from a range of a Scottish business leaders who will participate in two panel discussions at Berlinkys on Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street on the morning of Wednesday March 4. The first discussion will focus on the financial sector, with speakers including Zoe Graham, head of financial risk solutions at Virgin Money – one of three event sponsors alongside s1jobs and Berlinkys.
This will be followed by an industry-focused discussion with a panel including Colin Borland, Scotland director at the Federation of Small Businesses, David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, and Graeme Littlejohn, director of strategy and communications at the Scotch Whisky Association.
Speaking ahead of the event, Mr Borland signalled that the stakes were high, with the Spring Forecast coming at a time when the “cost of running a small business in Scotland is going up all the time - and that has real consequences”.
He added: “We see the impact of those pressures every day as small firms are forced to push up their prices, cancel investment plans or lay off staff.”
Mr Littlejohn said that while no major policy announcements were expected from Ms Reeves, the forecast “does come at an important time for the economy”.
“Following the release of the most recent GDP figures the ONS described economic growth as “subdued” and the Chancellor has admitted there is more to do,” he said. “The Scotch whisky industry, and business in general, would agree with that sentiment.”
Mr Lonsdale meanwhile said that people will be keeping a close eye on “forecasts for economic growth, investment, and public spending and whether the Government is beginning to deliver on its pledges to reboot the economy and bring down the deficit and ultimately the national debt.”
To book your place at this free event visit https://newsquestscotlandevents.com/events/budget-briefing-breakfast/
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