Business owner 'obviously worried' about Budget

The owner of an indoor climbing centre in west London says he fears the upcoming Budget may "not be so helpful".

Jon Partridge, of hang. in Hounslow, said he was "obviously worried" about a potential increase in National Insurance employers' contributions as it would mean he would have to “freeze headcount” if it were raised.

He added that he had received support from the “very pro-business" Hounslow Council but had concerns about whether the Labour government’s first Budget would be as supportive.

The BBC understands the Budget will include tax rises and spending cuts to the value of £40bn however the Treasury said it would not comment on speculation around future policies.

Mr Partridge said Hounslow Council had supported him with mentoring and advertising, which enabled him to grow his bottom line and staff numbers.

“What’s going to affect me as a small business is consumer confidence,” he said.

“People need to be confident that they’re going to have money in their pockets, that they can go out and make that disposable purchase to go climbing or buy whatever it is on the high street so for me that’s what I really want to see out of this budget.”

He added: “I want a total change in narrative.”

Hounslow is home to 15,000 companies and has recently presented its own business case for growth.

There are four pillars to the plan: tap into local industries, build new homes and infrastructure in places like Feltham, generate jobs for local people and promote the area as a place to invest.

While showing me New Road Triangle, a new housing development of which 124 will be council homes, the council’s deputy leader Tom Bruce said the borough’s growth plan could generate £30 billion by 2050 - if the government helped.

He is calling on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to prioritise councils like his, that already have development projects in the pipeline, when it comes to deciding where to direct funding for economic growth in the budget.

He said he understood it would be “tricky” for the government “to balance the things that local authorities” needed with “the national finances”.

But he added: “What I’m hoping to see is a bit of that directed funding looking at the local authorities that are ready to go like Hounslow, ready to put some money into specific projects and can spend that, and reap the benefits.”

The Budget is due to be announced on Wednesday.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]