26 November 2025, London - The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants’ (CIMA) reaction to the Budget is one of disappointment with the lack of measures to reduce costs to businesses, tackle spiralling public sector costs and invest in skills. Whilst the investment in infrastructure, support for entrepreneurship and business rate relief for the leisure sector is welcome, the overall rise in taxation, coupled with further complexity added to the tax system, could hinder rather than stimulate growth in the UK economy.
Andrew Harding, FCMA, CGMA, Chief Executive of The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants: “Today’s budget missed the opportunity to take bold action to address strategic problems facing the economy: spiralling public sector costs, an over complex tax system, a lack of investment in skills and growing costs being forced onto businesses operating in the UK. Tackling these priorities would have helped build confidence to invest, drive productivity and strengthened economic resilience. Instead, we have received an assortment of measures which fail to create a solid platform for increasing productivity, investing in skills and driving sustainable economic growth”.
Prior to the Budget, CIMA urged the UK Government to put in place measures to boost business confidence and long-term investment. This included reform the tax system to minimise complexity, invest in skills and reduce the regulatory burden on businesses.