Industry experts comment on the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement
Posted by: electime 18th November 2022
Dr Alex Mardapittas, CEO at Powerstar, said:
“After a frustrating period where the Government seemed to have overlooked the importance of energy efficiency in the energy transition, the subject received some welcome focus in the Autumn Statement. Ambitious new efficiency improvement targets and new funding both represent important drivers in improving the UK’s energy efficiency. Put simply, the cheapest and cleanest unit of energy is the one that we don’t use, and energy efficiency is one of the most powerful tools available to us, whether that is individual homes, businesses or the UK collectively, when it comes to mitigating rising energy costs and decarbonising our energy sector.”
Lindsay Ventress, Global NZT Advisory Ops Manager, at EcoAct, an Atos company, says:
“After recent missed opportunities, it’s encouraging to see the Chancellor seizing the moment today by committing to a target of reducing energy consumption from buildings and industry by 15 per cent by 2030 in the UK. As the Energy Bills Relief Scheme support will be tamped down from April, and with some worst-case scenarios estimating as much as 36 per cent of a bill is wasted energy, it’s no longer a choice but a necessity for companies to reduce their energy usage.
“But we can’t just wait around for government commitments, businesses must also be the drivers of progress. An energy-efficient office can save up to 65 per cent on energy bills, contribute to wider business sustainability strategies and free up funds for other parts of the company. Organisations that act on energy efficiency now will reap the benefits in the long term and can protect themselves against long-term volatility.”
ParcelHero’s Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks M.I.L.T, says:
“Retailers, manufacturers and their delivery and logistics partners have a lot to digest following the statement. Manufacturers may be heartened by the news that import tariffs are going to be reduced on some key component parts and that there will be a new initiative to make Britain “the next Silicon Valley”.
“Retailers will also give a cautious welcome to news of the transitional relief scheme for business rates. The £13.6bn business rates relief package will counter next April’s rise in the levy for thousands of companies. However, the ongoing business rates revaluation plans confirm that this outmoded and extremely costly tax will continue to strangle High Street businesses once any relief is withdrawn.
“Transport and logistics companies will welcome news that the capital expenditure budgets are to be maintained, and that HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail and East-West Rail remain on track. The construction of HS2 will enable existing rail lines to increase freight services and get unnecessary lorryloads off UK roads.
“However, many logistics companies and couriers are committed to greening their fleets and reducing carbon emissions by introducing more electric vehicles to their fleets. It’s a shame that electric vehicles will no longer be exempt from vehicle excise duty from 2025. This means owners of electric vans will start to pay this tax and private motorists will be discouraged from making the same switch to electric power.
“The Chancellor was correct in saying that the lasting impact of Covid on our supply chains has made goods more expensive and that our recession was largely made in Russia. However, he underestimates the impact of the previous Chancellor’s now notorious mini-budget on small retailers. In saying he understands the motivation of his predecessor’s mini-budget in identifying growth as a priority, he whitewashes the costly harm it has done, dooming us to an Austerity Christmas.”
