PODCAST: Cumbria reacts to the Budget 2025

Cumbrian Business Leaders React to Budget on Northern Lights Podcast
Cumbrian business voices have shared mixed reactions to the government’s Budget during discussions on Business Crack’s Northern Lights podcast.
Chris France, managing director of Jennings Brewery, said the announcements offered little help for the hospitality sector. Jennings has seen major growth since the summer with new supply contracts and recruitment to reopen the brewery to visitors, but France said the Budget did not shift his expectations.
“It hasn’t changed our predictions. The whole Budget was pretty much where I expected it to be which isn’t a lot of help for the sector,” he said.
He welcomed the increase in the minimum living wage, which the brewery already pays above, and added that changes to business rates would offer a small benefit.
“You’ve got to hope that that doesn’t stop people coming to the Lakes and enjoying a good pint,” he said.
Jayne Oxley, marketing manager at Oxley Developments in Ulverston, expressed disappointment that Cumbria had missed out on the 13 billion pounds given to mayoral authorities for skills and business support.
“There wasn’t that same kind of funding coming into areas like Cumbria where we’ve got a real need for investment,” she said.
Barrow Foodbank is also preparing for a difficult year. Project manager Matthew Burden said the decision to end the two child cap was positive and could lift 450,000 children out of poverty, but warned demand for food support continues to rise while donations have decreased.
Ben Harrison, director of The Work Foundation at Lancaster University, said the significant rise to the youth minimum wage was an important step in helping young and low paid workers achieve financial security.
However he cautioned that the government must monitor the impact on entry level jobs, noting a fall in vacancies over the past year that could signal a tougher labour market ahead.