Experts Share: How Are Businesses Preparing For The Upcoming Autumn Budget?

The Autumn Budget 2025 is the UK government’s key fiscal event of the year. Chancellor Rachel Reeves will outline tax and spending policies, set against the government’s economic forecasts.

You’ll remember that last year’s Autumn Budget was all about trying to get the country’s finances under control while promising money for services people actually feel every day. The Chancellor admitted an audit had flagged £22 billion of pressures that weren’t just a one-off, so the government rolled out new rules to stop everyday spending being propped up by borrowing.

Even so, they pledged to grow department budgets by 2% a year in real terms and threw over £100 billion into things like transport, housing and research. The official forecasts suggested growth would bounce up to 2.0% in 2025 before easing to 1.6% later in the decade, helped along by higher investment.

At the same time with the big numbers, the Budget put money into the NHS, schools and local infrastructure. There was £22.6 billion more for health and social care in 2025-26 to help clear waiting lists, plus funds for extra beds, diagnostic tests and maintenance.

Teachers, carers and pensioners all saw measures designed to shore up pay or support, while businesses got some relief through tax changes, lower alcohol duty on draught drinks and investment incentives. To cover the cost, the government raised employer National Insurance to 15%, lifted capital gains tax rates, and tightened inheritance and energy levies. Ministers pitched it as a programme to steady the economy while putting cash into services people rely on every day.

 

What Does The Autumn Budget Mean For Businesses?

 

Businesses may face higher taxes or reduced reliefs in the Autumn Budget 2025. The last Budget affected employers’ national insurance contributions, property reliefs and business rates. Further changes are likely as the government aims to meet its fiscal rules.

Spending cuts and higher taxes could increase operating costs for firms. Smaller businesses may feel the pressure on cash flow if reliefs are reduced, while larger companies may face additional levies. Investors will also watch closely, as changes could influence business confidence and investment decisions.

Reeves’ commitment to a single annual Budget gives companies more clear timelines for planning. Businesses can expect announcements on tax, reliefs and investment incentives, followed by consultations before changes take effect.

 

How Are Businesses Preparing?

 

Experts have shared how they are preparing for the Autumn Budget, and here’s what they shared…

 

Our Experts:

Luther Yeates, Head of Mortgages, UK Expat Mortgage
Mircea Dima, CEO, CTO, Founder and Software Engineer, AlgoCademy
Bennett Barrier, CEO, DFW Turf Solutions
Kieran Fallon, Head of Marketing, Ocuco

Luther Yeates, Head of Mortgages, UK Expat Mortgage

 

 

“I run a mortgage brokerage, and can say that for any business engaged with the property market the autumn budget is looking to spark a very busy period.

“The reason for this is Rachel Reeve’s property tax plans – nothing is set in stone yet but there are rumours around National Insurance requirements for BTL landlords and property taxes for £1.5m+ residences (a so-called ‘mansion tax’).

“Depending on what changes are proposed, we may see is a spike in property market activity to rush purchases and sales through before any taxes or new legislation becomes active – similar to what we saw in April 2025 when the stamp duty thresholds were updated.

“So, any businesses connected to the property market will be watching the budget twice as closely!”

 

Mircea Dima, CEO, CTO, Founder and Software Engineer, AlgoCademy

 

 

“As businesses make plans for their budgets this autumn, they have been monitoring events around the world – and the economic climate may well play a role in fiscal policy changes. Innovation is the keyword, while there’s an overall public funding perspective focused on helping tech startups and improving digital infrastructure. For these reasons, the amount of capital flowing into AI and automation is expected to increase, particularly in the tech sector, where devising on-time solutions is a matter of life or death. We are also tracking various tax changes that could have an effect on business from a R&D incentives perspective and profitability standpoint.

“The effects of the autumn budget also carry a lot of weight-especially when it comes to forward planning. “Corporations will likely model changes to their growth strategies based on new policy, and many will adjust their budgets for research and development as well as their hiring forecasts. This budget will come into play to make long-term decisions on areas like technology and talent acquisition.

“As a business owner, I found strategic planning is always related to the budget cycle. “We need to be agile, need to continue to read the policy landscape, and evolve.” However, with the right fiscal support, growth can happen and innovation can soar, which any progressive company would want to plan ahead for.”

 

Bennett Barrier, CEO, DFW Turf Solutions

 

 

“My experience in business operations and management has taught me that planning requires a great deal of foresight about what is going on outside the business. Currently, I operate a business that has multiple crews working on multiple projects throughout the state of Texas, and I’m constantly balancing variables like labor availability, supplier availability, and weather. Government budgets are another variable that can either stabilize or prompt changes in those operations. Even a small increase in fuel tax will cost the transport cost of dozens of trucks, and when you multiply that out over a season, it could be thousands of dollars.

“Companies are seeking clarity on taxes and tax incentives, and greater certainty on investments. A difference of one percent on the tax liabilities on $5 million in revenues is worth $50,000, and will determine the rate at which the company can grow, whether it can hire more people, or whether it can purchase more machines. For many companies, the concern is not over major reform proposals but rather the stability that allows them to plan one or two years into the future without having to redo projections quarterly.

“The autumn budget hits projects with the longest lead time hardest. In industries like construction or turf installation, where commercial jobs take months to go from contract to completion, a change in any policy on labor or material mid-project can reduce margins by 7% to 10%. That uncertainty makes companies afraid to make commitments until they know what their financial prospects will be.

“Budgets are a means of determining the allocation of resources. Training subsidies or worker-hiring subsidies may alter the rate at which firms hire workers, and infrastructure spending may affect where firms expand. My experience in management tells me that the best preparation is not to bet on one possibility or another, but to run the business in a way that will enable it to weather the ups and downs. That means strong relationships with suppliers, disciplined cash flow management, and a willingness to wait for the environment to provide greater certainty before expanding.”

 

Kieran Fallon, Head of Marketing, Ocuco

 

 

What businesses are expecting from the UK budget speech

Increases in ‘Sin’ Taxes or Sector-Specific Levies:

“Businesses in several fields are getting ready for future increases in sin taxes, which usually apply to things like alcohol, tobacco, sugary beverages, and gambling. They are also worried about additional taxes on junk food or other items.

“These taxes are often justified by governments as a means to promote public health, discourage harmful consumption, and generate additional revenue to address fiscal deficits, such as the reported black hole in public finances.

“Higher sin taxes can make the cost of living go up for consumers by making ordinary items more expensive. This leaves less money in their pockets and makes it harder for them to stick to their budgets. This can make people spend less on things that aren’t necessary or that they don’t really need.

“To get ready, companies are changing their plans by focusing on how important their services are to keep customers interested and loyal.

“This means improving marketing strategies to emphasize value, including offering bundled services or campaigns that stress long-term health advantages. This will help businesses stay strong in case customer confidence or purchasing power diminishes because of these changes in the economy.”

The impact businesses are predicting from the autumn budget

Increased Compliance Burdens:

“As part of a move toward a more digital tax system, businesses are predicting that the autumn budget will add or change regulatory requirements. For example, businesses may have to use electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) for VAT purposes.

“This is because the government is still talking to people about how to make invoicing more consistent so that tax collection is more accurate, less fraud occurs, and it takes less time. These talks are based on earlier negotiations, with potential implementation timelines building on earlier 2025 discussions.”

How upcoming budgets affect planning and business

International expansion planning accelerates

“Upcoming budgets can make businesses speed up their plans to join foreign markets as a way to spread out the risks that come with UK-specific fiscal policies, like tax hikes or changes in regulations that could hurt profits at home.

“Companies want to enter more stable or growth-oriented areas to balance their exposure to changes in the UK economy that happen when budgets are announced. This means increasing evaluations of international opportunities, like updating policies to meet foreign regulations, forming partnerships abroad, or shifting resources to global marketing efforts.

“In the end, this will create a more resilient business model that isn’t as reliant on the policies of one country.”