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Posted: Tue 15th Sep 2026
6 min read
Our CEO, Aaron Asadi, attended a "Business & Enterprise reception" at 10 Downing Street on Monday, 14 September, where Chancellor John Healey addressed British business leaders, entrepreneurs and local mayors.
The event was one of a series held at No. 10 this week, as the PM looks to position his government as a "partner for growth" ahead of the Chancellor's first Budget on 28 October, as ministers face pressure to turn recent rhetoric about backing enterprise into concrete policy.
Aaron shares his own take on what was said in the garden at No. 10 – and, more pointedly, what still needs to be done.
Recording devices are not allowed in No. 10, so I am unable to recite exactly what the Chancellor said to a garden full of British business leaders at the Business & Enterprise reception. But I dare say you, or anyone familiar with the recent rhetoric, can imagine the content.
Words like “back British business” and “support the private sector” and “reward innovation” and “partner for growth” were all present and accounted for.
And while it is in my interest to pretend that more was uttered – that Enterprise Nation was deep in the underbelly of the policy machine, privy to the secret, whirring cogs of change – the truth is an eye over Monday morning’s news would have given just as much insight.
Now, I am a fan of Burnham’s tone, and I like this government’s moxie. But – right now – it’s just words. Words words words. Blah blah blah. Soundbites aren’t policies and promises aren’t change.
The government knows this, I’m sure. But the upcoming Autumn Budget will test what it’s willing to do, not just what it’s willing to say.
There needs to be policy that deals with the rising cost of business, be that cuts in rates or tax relief or even bill freezes. (And, sorry, but the late payment bill just doesn’t qualify anymore – that was last year’s big win and we won’t applaud a victory lap, however positive it might be).
Burnham and Healey are very welcome to talk about their hopes and dreams for UK business, but unless it’s backed up with policy, no one will want to listen.
Addressing the cost is the bare minimum. Anything other than that will do more than aggravate – it will likely contribute to the closure of many UK businesses.
As one member put it at a recent minister-attended roundtable: “the government can shove it up their arse”.
But we want more than policy that only addresses cost. The next greatest emergency for UK businesses is the adoption of AI – and there needs to be much stronger support for this major challenge baked into new legislation.
As we said to the Chancellor, what the web did to the UK high street, AI will do to our service sector. It is happening now. And unless we make a radical change in how we deliver the education required, there will be no mitigation.
Without it, every penny spent today on UK consultants will be cents in the pockets of US corporations.
If there was any hope to be stolen from the reception, it wasn’t to be found in the Chancellor’s remarks but in the company of the attendees.
It didn’t matter if we were talking to the CEO of a huge pub chain, or chairman of a major SME tech brand, or the Deputy Mayor of London – the agreement on cost pressures and AI is locked across the UK business landscape.
We all want the same thing. The government has heard us ask the question again and again. The Autumn Budget will be their answer.
AI, Together is a small, friendly group for Enterprise Nation members who are new to AI and would rather explore it with good company than on their own. Sign up for the next event on 25 September!
