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What does the Autumn Budget mean for Surrey Business Leaders?

10th November 2026

 

Last Thursday, Surrey Chambers of Commerce, in partnership with Moore South and Moore Kingston Smith, welcomed more than 60 attendees to its Autumn Budget Breakfast at the Harbour Hotel Guildford, bringing together Surrey’s business community to explore the Budget and hear expert perspectives on the economic outlook.

Leigh Collins, Partner at Moore Kingston Smith, opened the presentations with an overview of key Budget announcements and their potential impact on businesses. Her presentation covered areas including capital allowances, employment costs, corporation tax and changes to VAT and digital operations, highlighting the importance of forward planning as businesses prepare for upcoming changes.

 

Reflecting on the importance of acting early, Leigh’s message was: “Look at the changes before April, it’s important and easier to take earlier action.”

 

You can access her presentation here

Paul Kharbanda, Head of Mid Market Sales, Financial Markets at Lloyds Banking Group, followed with an analysis of the economic landscape, examining global financial markets, inflation, energy prices and interest-rate expectations. He also explored the UK’s growth prospects and the effect of cautious consumer confidence on business conditions. He also noted that 5% of adults pay a subscription for an AI model, adding up to £1 billion total expenditure.

 

Summing up his perspective on the Budget, Paul observed: “The budget was not that exciting, but that’s the hallmark of it all.”

 

You can access his presentation here

 

Phil Hogben, Associate at Moore South, presented findings from the Moore UK Owner-Managed Business Pulse Report, which surveyed 518 business owners and senior decisionmakers. His session explored business confidence, investment intentions and what businesses want from Government, with lower business taxes and reduced operating costs emerging as key priorities alongside longer-term investment in skills and infrastructure.

 

Phil states: “Lower business taxes and reduced National Insurance contributions would help the most, along with more support for investing in technology and staff training.”

 

You can access his presentation here

 

It was a really engaging morning and then concluded with a Q&A session, giving everyone the opportunity to engage with all three speakers, followed by a short networking session.

 

The event provided valuable insight into the Budget and the wider economic outlook, encouraging informed discussion about the practical steps businesses can take to navigate uncertainty, plan for change and support future growth.

If you have any questions or feedback regarding this event please contact: Ryan Hadden, Events and Marketing Manager – ryan.hadden@surrey-chambers.co.uk