Skewed Taxes: The 2025 Forecast That Will Make You Rethink Your Ledger
When the Government Keeps Raising the Money Jar
Thinking the economy can keep growing while piling on more taxes? Let the SHEVAUN HAVILAND, Director General of the Business & Commerce Council (BCC), give you the hard truth.
Conference Incident
At the BCC Global Annual Conference 2025, Shevaun is set to drop some hard‑knock research banking on the fact that the recent spike in National Insurance Contributions is shaking our businesses.
Survey Snapshot
Shevaun’s team surveyed over 570 businesses, mostly SMEs. Their findings? Shockingly blunt:
- 32% of firms admitted they either fired staff or are planning to because of the NIC hike.
- 13% have already cut jobs.
- 19% are actively weighing the option.
Meeting the Audience
In her keynote, Shevaun will push the government to rely on the BCC’s Blueprint for Growth—a long‑term playbook promising to expand the economy.
New Trade Strategy Praise
Shevaun will cheer on the new Trade Strategy, saying:
“It’s a data‑driven plan to boost our export power.
It spotlights our services and high‑growth goods. Targets markets in the Indo‑Pacific, Americas, and Europe.
Trading deals that focus on sectors and digital outputs are welcomed, along with a firm commitment to a global trading system based on rules.
This is the start of marketing the UK worldwide.
Brand Britain is a powerful tool, and we need politicians, diplomats, and business leaders to shout it in unison — to sell our great country and attract inward investment.
Let’s use our new Industrial and Trade Strategies as the manifesto for Brand Britain across the globe.”
Surprises on the Tax Front
Shevaun will highlight that businesses felt blindsided by the NIC raise. The sudden cost blow‑up forced many to reinterpret growth plans. Business confidence has, for the first time since 2022, hit rock bottom.
“To achieve the Growth Mission, we need employment to stay alive and businesses to invest. Right now, it feels like wading through treacle,” Shevaun asserts.
Unveiling the Skills Gap Crisis
Shevaun, harkening back to the Tony Blair chant of “education, education, education,” will advocate a new rallying cry: “skills, skills, skills.”
- Two thirds of businesses report skills shortages.
- Many young talents arrive without core skills needed for modern work.
- There’s a firm call to bring the workplace into education, and students into workplaces before they drop out.
- “Linking education and business like never before” is the urgent path forward.
Buy British: A Call to Action
Endorsing the mantra “government must buy British,” Shevaun will urge state bodies to wield their buying power:
“Use the purse’s power: buy British. Keep your promise to boost local firms via infrastructure strategy, and enforce these rules across all government procurement.
Get this right and we’ll inject billions into the economy. Taxpayers’ money returns to taxpayers’ pockets.”
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