The much-anticipated Spring Statement from Chancellor Rachel Reeves has landed—and while it’s being branded as a “mini budget,” the implications for small businesses and individuals are far from minor.

Here’s a clear breakdown of the key points and what they could mean for you as a business owner:

🔍 WIDER ECONOMY

• Inflation sits at 2.8% (12 months to Feb 2025)—down from highs but still squeezing margins.
• Welfare cuts to impact 1 million people, signalling a tougher environment for lower-income households.
• Defence spending increases by £2.2bn amid global instability.
• 15% reduction in civil service jobs – echoes of Silicon Valley-style efficiency pushes.
• UK growth forecast downgraded from 2% to 1% (BoE predicting just 0.7%)—not exactly confidence-inspiring.
• 10 new technical colleges focused on the construction sector—positive if you’re in the trades.
• Trade risks rising with expected tariffs from the US next week, adding pressure on exporters.

🧾 SMALL BUSINESS IMPACT

• HMRC is targeting a 20% increase in tax investigation revenue.
  🔺 Translation: expect more letters, compliance checks, and scrutiny.
  ✅ Now’s the time to ensure your records, bookkeeping, and tax planning are watertight.
• Business rates relief unchanged – a missed opportunity for high-street recovery.
• No major support for rising employer costs (e.g. minimum wage, National Insurance hikes).
• Corporation Tax rates remain unchanged—but still high at 25% for many small limited companies.
• No new energy support for SMEs despite ongoing utility price concerns.

👨‍👩‍👧 INDIVIDUALS & HOUSEHOLDS

• Universal Credit Health Element cut by 50%, and frozen for new claimants.
  👉 That’s an average loss of £4,500 per claimant—expect more GP appointments to prove eligibility and more pressure on the NHS.
• Relaxed planning policies aim to encourage housebuilding—watch this space if you’re in construction or property development.
• No changes to income tax or NIC thresholds, meaning more people are being dragged into higher tax bands through fiscal drag (aka stealth taxation).

🧠 TAKEAWAY

While the statement might seem “low-key,” the devil is in the detail. Cuts to welfare, rising tax compliance activity, and zero relief for mounting business costs suggest that:

• The government is squeezing from both ends—cutting spending and increasing collections.
• Small business owners should expect less state support and more regulatory pressure.
• Now is the time to review your tax planning, pricing strategy, and financial resilience.

At Adaptive Accountancy, we’re already helping clients prep for increased HMRC activity and tightening economic conditions. If you’re unsure whether your finances are robust enough to weather the storm, now is a good time to talk.

🔗 If you’d like a deeper analysis tailored to your business, drop me a message.