Hampshire Chamber of Commerce has published its very own wish list ahead of the spring budget on Wednesday.

Its chairman and chief executive, Ross McNally, has highlighted the issues members want Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to address.

Mr McNally said: "The Chancellor must do everything possible to create a sustainable environment in which businesses can invest and grow.

“A Budget package with a focus on skills, tax incentives, business rates reform, and support for infrastructure planning would go a long way to achieve that.

"We call on Jeremy Hunt to commit to funding business-led Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) beyond the current 2025 cut-off point to at least 2028.

“In our region, we have led the research and implementation of the Solent LSIP and played a key role in the Enterprise M3 LSIP. These robust, targeted initiatives are absolutely vital to our regional economy.

“They will increasingly equip people with essential skills for career success while enabling employers to resolve the critical skills shortages they face in their workplaces.

“In helping to coordinate the input of business and the education sector on the development of LSIPs, we know how working together can unlock valuable insights and make a real difference.

“Already, Hampshire’s further education sector has received millions of pounds’ worth of investment in strategic support for the skills agenda thanks to business cases put forward by our LSIPs.

“That activity must not stop now. We still need substantial investment to enhance career progression and improve employability. Mr Hunt must continue to prioritise funding for skills in our region."

Mr McNally said the Budget was a good opportunity to build on measures introduced in the last Autumn Statement to improve tax breaks and incentives for business.

“Making permanent the system of allowances for capital investment in plant, machinery and IT, so-called full expensing, was a move welcomed by many firms. Now the Chancellor should go further and accelerate help for business. 

“Specifically, we call on him to lower the VAT rate for the hospitality sector. If he does, this will boost consumer spending, help cashflow for the many SMEs who operate restaurants, pubs, hotels and leisure facilities, and support long-term investment in hospitality skills and employment. 

“The sector desperately needs a lift because spending has been so constrained."