Member Article

Government should be doing more to boost jobs

WHILE THE UK awaits the latest growth figures, a North East firm of chartered accountants is calling for the Government to boost job creation and business expansion.

While the region hopes to build its private sector economy Heather O’Driscoll, managing partner at Hartlepool-based Waltons Clark Whitehill, says more should be done to help business.

“Since mid-August, in excess of 17,600 private sector jobs have been announced for the North East economy, showing a resilience and will to grow despite the pressures that business owners face from external sources, such as tax and fuel rises,” she said.

“The growing cost of fuel hits almost every business in the country, and we are told this may hit £1.70 a litre in rural places during the summer, so some form of control on that cost would make a significant difference to business owners.

“Inflation in December was 3.7%, putting further pressure on the Bank of England to increase interest rates, and we have yet to face the impact of the National Insurance rise in April.”

Ms O’Driscoll also believes that If the jobs market is to find any balance between public sector job losses and private sector growth, the Government must remove or reduce red tape and taxes.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .