Speaking in response to the Chancellor’s Budget on Wednesday, HTA’s Director of Policy and Communications, James Clark, said: 

“Optimism that Covid will be beaten sees the country moving into recovery and it is good news for horticultural businesses that the support they need, in the form of the extension to the Furlough scheme, self-employed support scheme, business rates relief, and new loan schemes is in place.  

"With this, there’s a chance to provide short-term support to businesses in our sector, but we’d like to see the Government starting to provide a wider narrative on post-covid UK business growth. ‘Green growth’ is the key to building back a better, more sustainable country. 

"The UK horticulture sector, in collaboration with Government, is developing a growth strategy for publication this year to help develop our economy. This will set out the benefits and opportunities British horticulture brings. 

"There is never a better chance for the Government to start to reconnect its economic policies, with a greener, happier, more prosperous country."