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Mind the Gap: UK mid-sized businesses call for Autumn Budget action as 78% feel overlooked by Government policy

As the Autumn Budget approaches, mid-sized businesses are calling on the Government for more support - with new research from Shawbrook revealing that the majority (78%) feel overlooked by existing policy.

A group of people sit facing a woman presenting in front of a whiteboard. One attendee raises their hand, while others listen and take notes. The whiteboard has diagrams and text.

At a glance

  • Four in five (79%) medium-sized businesses find it hard to access government support, with 18% not knowing how to access it at all
  • 35% say the economic outlook for the next 12 months is negative
  • SMEs are calling for support with energy bills, increased business rate relief and assistance accessing new markets  in the Autumn Budget

November 2025

As the Autumn Budget approaches, mid-sized businesses  are calling on the Government for more support - with new research from Shawbrook revealing that the majority (78%) feel overlooked by existing policy.

Shawbrook’s latest research, focusing on the UK’s medium-sized businesses, highlights a significant ‘support gap’ in this market. Despite being crucial employers and drivers of UK growth, the majority feel that policy measures are instead directed either at early-stage start-ups (e.g., via EIS), or large corporate entities.

The feeling of being overlooked comes at a challenging time, with more than a third (35%) of SME leaders expressing a negative economic outlook for the next 12 months

Top Budget priorities - and access barriers

When asked what they are calling for in the upcoming Autumn Budget, medium sized businesses top priorities focus on operational stability and growth enablers. Key support measures being called for include:

26%

Support with energy bills

26%

Support accessing new markets

25%

Increased business rate relief

25%

Funding for digital transformation

24%

Increased access to finance, such as flexible funding scheme

Enduring optimism 

Despite the significant frustrations, mid-sized business leaders remain optimistic for future positive change, with 72% reporting that they trust the Government to contribute to their growth in the next year. This optimism is felt more for larger businesses (100-249 employees), where 76% feel positive, compared to 66% of smaller firms (50-99 employees). 

 

Neil Rudge, Chief Banking Officer for Commercial at Shawbrook, said:

“Medium-sized businesses are the engine room of the UK economy, yet our research clearly shows a concerning consensus that they are being overlooked. There is a palpable ‘support gap’ where policy measures are missing the mark for this vital segment. It’s not just about introducing new schemes, but making existing support straightforward and more accessible.

“Mid-sized firms continue to hope that the Government will offer more support for them and their growth in the year ahead. In the upcoming Autumn Budget, it will be telling to see if these hopes are confirmed or dashed given how vital these firms are for UK economic prosperity.”