Response to today’s Autumn Statement

17 November 2022

Responding to today’s Autumn Statement, Mark Roberts, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, said: "West Yorkshire’s businesses are facing a triple blow of high energy costs, soaring inflation and recession, which together will make for a bitter winter, and today’s Autumn Statement offers little help in the short term.

“While business rate relief offers some support for struggling high streets, we need more detail and clarity over future support for energy costs. Our own figures show over 200,000 people in West Yorkshire are employed by companies whose future may be at risk due to towering energy bills. 

“Looking to the longer term, we support Sir Patrick Vallance’s review of regulations around digital, life sciences, green industries, financial services and advanced manufacturing. These are sectors where West Yorkshire is a world leader and can play a strong role in helping Britain to become the next Silicon Valley.”