The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has responded to the publication of the Business & Trade Committee’s Small Business Strategy. The response follows the HTA’s written evidence submitted last year.

Jennifer Pheasey, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the HTA, commented:

“Environmental horticulture is an industry where over 90% of businesses are SMEs, and we welcome the recognition of their importance, their role in the economy and as potential drivers for green growth. Our sector that contributes £38 billion to UK GDP and supports over 722,000 good, green jobs. In environmental horticulture alone, we know that with the right policy environment, we have the potential to grow that contribution to £51.2 billion by 2030.

“This inquiry highlights some of the challenges felt acutely by SMEs, and our members are telling us that the 'cost of doing business' pressure is having a real impact. We know that recent changes to the National Minimum Wage and National Insurance have added an estimated £134 million in cumulative costs to our industry. This is on top of broader regulatory and economic pressures, such as business rates hikes, Extended Producer Responsibility bills, trade friction, inheritance tax relief changes and the projected £3.68 billion UK-wide increase in energy transmission (TNUoS) charges, which will inevitably feed through to our members' overheads via energy retail prices and standing charges.

“The Committee’s findings highlight some specifics we know are hitting our sector hard, with retail crime as an example and one which we have long been calling for action on. Other recommendations we support are the current and future skills pipelines SMEs need, better cross-Whitehall co-ordination on policies and regulatory impacts, and, of course, the missed opportunities in public procurement for SMEs. As a sector with huge potential to deliver even more for the UK’s green infrastructure, green spaces, tree-planting and environmental targets, we would welcome more direct engagement to work with UK growers, suppliers and landscapers to make this happen. SMEs are the lifeblood of UK environmental horticulture, and we hope swift and targeted government action on the committee’s recommendations and on the cost of doing business challenge will help unlock confidence and growth.”