Tom Clements, President, National Outdoor Events Association (NOEA)
“The National Outdoor Events Association acknowledges this week’s Budget and the Government’s ambition to stimulate growth. However, much of the approach appears to be driven by increased taxation, particularly at the upper end of the income scale, and we remain concerned about the implications this has for British businesses, including those within the outdoor events sector.
We welcome the rise in the National Living Wage and recognise the positive impact this can have for many workers. That said, when employers also factor in an additional 28% in associated costs, holiday pay, employer National Insurance contributions and pensions, this will inevitably create further upward pressure on rates charged to clients. For an industry already working to balance affordability with sustainability, this may prove challenging.
We are also concerned that fiscal drag could pull some of the lowest-paid workers in our sector into higher tax brackets. At a time when many are still recovering from cost-of-living pressures, this does feel disproportionate and unfair.
More broadly, we remain firm in our view that the Government cannot tax its way to growth. While there are elements of the Budget we agree with, there is little within it that directly supports the outdoor events industry. Hospitality and leisure have received targeted measures, yet once again, no specific packages have been offered to our sector.
Outdoor events play a vital role in the UK’s cultural, social, and economic landscape. We urge the Government to recognise this contribution and work with us to create an environment where our industry can grow sustainably and confidently.”