UK business support remains on the government’s agenda as Prime Minister Andy Burnham prepares for the autumn Budget while acknowledging limited room for large new fiscal commitments.
UK Business Support and Business Rates
Speaking to BBC Radio’s Wake Up to Money on 12 August, Burnham said the cost of doing business remains high, particularly for smaller firms, and indicated that business rates would be among the issues considered as the government prepares the Budget.
The comments follow the government’s July announcement of additional business-rates support for pubs, social clubs and live music venues in England. The measure is due to provide an additional 20% reduction in eligible bills from 2027/28 alongside existing support.
Predictability Matters as Much as Relief
For employers, the key question is not simply whether the Budget provides another reduction. Companies making hiring, investment and property decisions need to know how long relief will last, how eligibility changes after revaluation and how future bills may move.
That matters particularly for smaller businesses, where relatively modest changes in property, wage or energy costs can alter expansion decisions. Our analysis of UK inflation and business costs explains how those pressures interact.
The Autumn Budget Is the Next Test
Burnham’s remarks are a signal rather than a new formal policy package. The government has also emphasised the constraints created by the fiscal outlook, so any additional support will need to be assessed alongside its cost and funding.
For British companies, the practical message is therefore one of direction rather than certainty: business costs remain a stated policy concern, business rates are still under review and the autumn Budget will determine how far that concern translates into new measures.
Sources: Reuters, 12 August 2026; UK Government, 23 July 2026.
