Sluggish 0.1% economic growth will not ease persistent pressure on business

Richard Blackmore from The East Midlands Chamber

The East Midlands Chamber has renewed its call for greater business support amid ‘persistent and sustained’ challenges faced by firms, despite latest GDP data from the Office for National Statistics showing the economy grew only 0.1% in the final quarter of 2025.

East Midlands Chamber Director of Policy and Insight Richard Blackmore said: “Growth in GDP can be an encouraging sign around the state of the economy showing mild recovery but when only a slow climb and there are an increasing mountain of costs for firms to foot as we, for many firms, look towards the start of a new financial year on 1st April – take your pick from higher business rates to high energy costs to costs associated with hiring to far-above-target inflation – the need for support to help business is crystal clear.

“Temporary support, like the recent rates relief package announced for pubs that was a short-term sticking plaster fix that missed a large slice of the hospitality sector, small businesses and manufacturers, is not sufficient – what business needs is support significant enough and far reaching enough to incentivise investment.

“The Chamber’s Framework for Growth sets out the areas policymakers need to address to unlock the region’s full potential and ease some of the immense pressure on business. With unemployment having risen to 6% in the East Midlands, we need to see investment in skills, getting candidates into roles that can fulfil what the employer needs; we need to turbocharge the painfully slow planning system; we need to get infrastructure upgraded and improve connectivity – reforms outlined in the Framework for Growth that would enable the region to thrive.”