ENTREPRENEUR Alison Grieve thought The Budget contained measures that could provide real help for the firm she runs but was disappointed it fell short in at least one key area.
Ms Grieve went into business in 2010 to sells attachments she developed to make it easier to hold iPads and other tablet computers after becoming frustrated with using them.
The Edinburgh-based G-Hold business she runs has sales approaching £1 million.
As the company designs its products in-house, Ms Grieve was pleased Mr Hammond moved to increase the research and development tax credit to 11 per cent from 12 per cent.
While the scheme concerned targets big firms some smaller players can qualify for the relief.
She was also pleased by the proposal to double the amount of funding “knowledge intensive” firms can raise from business angels and the like under the Enterprise Investment Scheme to £2m.
“The key things for us that would be of benefit are the research and development credit being raised and the doubling of the EIS provision,” said Ms Grieve.
She felt Mr Hammond’s plan to unlock over £20 billion of investment in UK scale-up businesses, supported by £2.5bn public funding delivered through the British Business Bank, sounded encouraging.
Speaking ahead of the Budget Ms Grieve noted that companies are most vulnerable in the growth phase.
As G-Hold relies on freelances to complete the final stage assembly work on its products, it was a relief Mr Hammond did not revive controversial proposals to increase the rate of National Insurance payable by self-employed people.
Ms Grieve was also pleased the Chancellor froze fuel duty. Any rise could put pressure on supply chain costs for G-Hold, which sources the components for its products in Scotland.
However, as G-Hold relies on exports to countries such as the US for a significant share of its sales, Ms Grieve was disappointed that The Budget appeared to provide no help for exporters. These face
uncertainty about what Brexit will mean for trade.
Noting that G-Hold provides work for local manufacturers, Ms Grieve concluded: “I did not see anything specifically for exporters, which was hugely surprising.”
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