A leading Cornish independent financial adviser is urging business people to take up the challenge put forward by George Osborne in the run up to the Budget in March.
The Chancellor unveiled plans to ask the public for ideas via a new online Budget portal last month and Worldwide Financial Planning managing director, Peter McGahan, believes local businesses should get involved.
With the 2011 Budget, which takes place on Wednesday, March 23, focusing on growth Mr McGahan believes that people should take the opportunity to make their voice heard
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Mr McGahan.
“It’s time for responsibility and the Chancellor has asked people for their views, so we should give him our views i.e. tell him what we need for business locally.
“All too often people complain afterwards about what comes out in the Budget and how it will have an impact on them, but here is a perfect opportunity for them to communicate up front.”
The crowdsourcing – the act of outsourcing tasks to a large group or community – call from Mr Osborne follows on from the October 2010 Spending Review, when over 100,000 members of the public went online to submit suggestions on how the Government could save money.
At the launch of the Budget portal the Chancellor said: “I want to hear about your brightest and best ideas, because next month’s Budget will be all about growth. In particular I want to know what businesses, large and small, want from me. So go online and tell me what you think.”
Cornwall Chamber chief executive, Richard Glover, backed Mr McGahan’s call: “This is the first time that businesses in Cornwall have had the chance to directly influence what happens in the Budget and I think people need to get involved and take the opportunity that the Chancellor has presented us.
“From our quarterly economic survey we know the issues that businesses in Cornwall are facing and this is a great chance to try and address some of them.”
Peter added: “Businesses have got a chance to make a difference and have a positive impact on the Coalition Government’s growth strategy so I urge people to go online and participate.”
Ideas can be submitted at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget_representation.htm.
Our advisers are here to help you so please do get in touch. To contact our Northern Ireland office, call 028 6863 2692; our Cornwall office – 01872 222422 and you can reach our Southampton office on 023 8064 9674. If you prefer to email, please contact us on info@wwfp.net.
You can also join our social conversations on Twitter with Peter McGahan and Worldwide Financial Planning and you’ll find us on LinkedIN – Facebook and Instagram