Nearly 70 business leaders from across the region packed into Rams RFC last month for Wokingham Positive Difference’s Big Budget Breakfast — an event designed to make sense of what many described as a particularly tough Autumn Budget.
The session was led by Graeme Hobbs (Wokingham Positive Difference/Hobbs Granger Roitt LLP) and aimed to cut through the headlines to what the changes really mean for local businesses.
The morning began with an upbeat welcome from Andy Lynch (Rams RFC/Duncan Lynch Precision Engineering), who shared the club’s story and its growing role in the community, before introducing the day’s line-up of speakers.
Zahra Bharmal (Kirk Rice LLP) opened with a sharp analysis of the Chancellor’s plans to find the £26 billion in extra tax. She highlighted the measures most likely to catch businesses unaware, and set out an accessible timeline for when each change will start to bite — a section that had many attendees taking notes.
Employment specialist Matt Jenkin (Herrington Carmichael) then explored the real-world impact of minimum wage rises, pension salary-sacrifice changes and ongoing Employment Rights Bill consultations. He spoke about the knock-on effects for pay structures, recruitment and skills development, noting that some sectors may feel the pressure faster than others.
Shifting the tone, David Fenton (The Marketing Centre) reminded the room that difficult economic periods have often produced some of the UK’s most resilient brands.
He urged businesses to lean into customer experience, communication and innovation, pointing to opportunities around apprenticeships and the Youth Guarantee.
Economist Gary Reynolds (Courtiers Wealth Management) challenged prevailing headlines about government debt, arguing that the UK’s strong personal asset base offers important context.
His message: long-term investment remains not just viable, but vital.
Cllr Stephen Conway, Leader of Wokingham Borough Council, rounded off the presentations with an update on council finances and a call for deeper collaboration between local authorities and the business community.
A lively panel discussion closed the event, with AI adoption, productivity gains and partnership working emerging as the key themes for the year ahead.
