Support for people and businesses to help with increasing costs of living

The Growth Company is on hand to support people and businesses through the cost-of-living crisis, following the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered his budget on Thursday 17 November outlining a number of measures that will impact households and businesses across all sectors. He also announced confirmation from the Office of Budget Responsibility that the UK is now in a recession.

He announced £55 billion of spending cuts and tax rises, along with nearly £14 billion in tax cuts for businesses over the next five years.

Responding to the Autumn Statement and the impact on businesses, Janine Smith, Director of the GC Business Growth Hub, said: “Rising energy prices and other costs of doing business are impacting all sectors and we understand the huge pressure businesses are facing with their energy bills.

“While today’s budget did not set out any new or additional support for businesses, the GC Business Growth Hub is here to support them through what is an undeniably difficult period.

“Our #HereForBusiness campaign is providing practical support to make a real, immediate difference to businesses and I’d urge any business that have concerns or need help to take a look at what is available.”

The Chancellor confirmed that the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, which provided a vital lifeline for many businesses, is still due to finish at the end of March 2023.

Read the full response from the Business Growth Hub on the Autumn Statement on the GC Business Growth Hub website.

The Chancellor also announced that help for household energy bills be extended, but the Energy Price Guarantee will rise, meaning a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity will pay £3,000 annually, up from £2,500. 

The Government also announced an increase in the National Living Wage, but against a backdrop of tax increases and a predicted rise in unemployment.

The Growth Company works with people who are concerned about their future or have found themselves out of work, providing support and services related to employment legal advice, skills training and recruitment.  As well providing support to businesses to help with redundancy.

GC also supports individuals and businesses to help overcome disadvantage, getting long-term unemployed people back into fulfilling jobs and upskilling workers to boost their career opportunities.

GC Education and Skills also offers a range of Skills Bootcamps – part of the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee and Plan for Jobs – which are flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and fast-track to an interview with a local employer.

Find out more about our support for people.

Find out more about our support for businesses. 

We have also launched the Max Your Money campaign - bringing together our range of services to maximise your money - whether you are looking for work, wanting to progress in your careers or you are self-employed looking to take the next step.