Business
Welsh people fear small businesses most at risk from Autumn Budget tax rises
Public want energy and food costs tackled as uncertainty grows
WELSH adults believe small businesses would be hardest hit if the Chancellor raises taxes in this week’s Autumn Budget, according to new polling.
The research, commissioned by Novuna Business Finance and carried out a week before the Budget, asked a nationally representative sample of 2,000 consumers about the measures they most expect and fear.
Lower energy bills (76%), a cheaper weekly food shop (68%) and lower taxes (33%) topped the list of outcomes that Welsh households said would be most welcome. But alongside this, many expressed concern about the future of small businesses in their communities.
Small firms, high streets and hospitality highlighted
Asked which parts of the economy would be most at risk if taxes increase, 58% of Welsh respondents selected small businesses. High street shops followed on 52%, with 49% concerned about pubs and restaurants. Farmers (45%), self-employed workers (41%), and music venues (18%) were also seen as vulnerable.
The poll also asked which sectors the Government should prioritise with investment. UK manufacturing came top (35%), followed by hospitality (31%), agriculture (28%) and retail (27%).
These findings form part of Novuna’s new insight report, Christmas trading and the Autumn Budget, which examines trading conditions and confidence among small firms at the end of 2025.
Business owners braced for impact
A separate Q4 study of 1,000 small business owners found 86% fear the Autumn Budget could negatively affect their growth plans. Many remain concerned about further rises to National Insurance (59%), while half worry about potential increases to VAT or income tax.
Fuel duty increases were cited by 37%, with a similar proportion anxious about potential new taxes on diesel and petrol vehicles. Around a third (34%) expressed concern about reported discussions over pension changes.
The research comes as confidence hits a five-year low, with just 25% of small firms forecasting growth in the final quarter of 2025 – down from 35% at the same point last year.
‘Small businesses need a Budget for Business’
Joanna Morris, Head of Insight at Novuna Business Finance, said:
“The broad-based public support for UK small businesses shows how vital they are to communities – from job creation to economic growth and local projects.
“The last four quarters have seen consecutive falls in confidence and our new research suggests small businesses cannot keep absorbing rising costs. With 5.7 million SMEs in the UK, they are the engine room of growth and innovation. We all need to support them so we can lay the foundations for business success into 2026.”
Business
Bowls club in battle with council over signs put up without permission
A PEMBROKESHIRE town’s bowls club has called on planners to let it keep advertising signs for local businesses erected without permission, which help support its operations.
In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Fishguard & Goodwick Bowls Club, Wern Road, Goodwick seeks retrospective permission for up to 36 signs on land close to the town’s Pheonix Centre.
The signs had been in place for some 18 months, being removed ahead of a formal planning application.
A supporting statement accompanying the application says: “This application seeks retrospective consent for the display of up to 36 non-illuminated, single-sided advertisement panels mounted to an existing timber boundary fence.
It said the advertisements are modest in scale, facing an existing large car park rather than nearby residential properties and does not project over any public highway or footpath.
It added: “The advertisement signs have been temporarily removed while planning permission is sought. The advertisements and fence had been in place for approximately 18 months prior to their temporary removal, during which time no complaints were received.
“The total number of advertisements has been consciously limited, and not all fence bays display signage, ensuring that the proposal does not result in harm to visual amenity or public safety.
“The income generated from the advertisements provides an important source of revenue for the Fishguard and Goodwick Bowls Club, supporting the ongoing operation and maintenance of local community sporting facilities.
“The advertising panels also offer local businesses an affordable and accessible means of promotion within the community.”
The application will be considered by county planners at a later date.
Business
Tenby sandwich shop owner Ruby’s celebrates planning victory
A SANDWICH shop owner who successfully challenged a national park refusal of plans for a takeaway food kiosk in Tenby’s seaside harbour, has spoken of her excitement at now being able to move forward.
At the March 2025 development management committee, Ruby Goodrick was refused permission from Pembrokeshire Coast National Park planners to turn the old RNLI lifeboat store, Penniless Cove, Tenby Harbour, into a takeaway cold food outlet, open 10am-10pm seven days a week.
The application came before committee members rather than an officer decision as Tenby Town Council objected, and was recommended for approval despite being a departure from the adopted development plan.
Since then, Ruby lodged a successful appeal with Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), the Inspector’s report, granting permission, focussing on “whether the development would be an appropriate use within this location, the impact on the character and appearance of the area, and whether it would affect Tenby Conservation Area”.
It said that, although the site was just outside the town centre “I consider that a small scale cold food takeaway outlet in this location would not undermine the town centre of Tenby or its retail function and would not have any impact on its future viability and vitality,” adding: “To the contrary, the development would complement the role of the town centre by contributing to having a mix of uses within this edge of centre location, which is encouraged within Future Wales.”
Following her successful appeal, Ruby, who relatively recently reopened her mum’s old sandwich shop in the town’s South Parade said: “It’s been a long journey over the past three years, with plenty of ups and downs, so I’m really pleased and relieved that the appeal was successful in the end.
“As someone who is local to Tenby, it means so much to me to have reopened my mum’s old sandwich shop, Trulys Sandwich Shop, on South Parade seven months ago. To now have the opportunity to open another shop at Tenby Harbour is something I’m incredibly proud of.
“I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who has sent messages of support and encouragement along the way — it’s meant a lot to me and my family.
“I’m really excited to move forward with the new takeaway at Tenby Harbour and look forward to serving both locals and visitors and bringing something new to the harbour.”
Business
Pembrokeshire’s Nia shortlisted for Women in Insurance Awards
THREE members of staff at FUW Insurance Services have been shortlisted for the prestigious Women in Insurance Awards 2026.
Among them is Pembrokeshire’s Nia Evans, who has been named as a finalist in the Young Insurance Woman of the Year category for small to medium firms.
The awards celebrate the achievements of women across the insurance industry, recognising excellence at all levels and highlighting organisations working to improve diversity and inclusion.
Winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on October 13, 2026.
Nia joined FUW Insurance Services in August 2022 as an account handler and has since gained experience across several portfolios, including Gwent, Glamorgan and Pembrokeshire.
She has completed her Cert CII qualification and was selected as part of the first cohort at the FUW Insurance Services Academy in 2025.
Her nomination recognises her strong professional development, growing expertise and early impact within the business.
Meleri James has also been shortlisted for Claims Professional of the Year. She joined FUW Insurance Services in 2021 as an insurance claims handler before becoming Deputy Claims Manager in 2023.
A Dip CII Level 4 qualified professional, she was appointed Claims Manager in autumn 2025.
Karen Royles has been shortlisted for Insurance Woman of the Year in the small to medium firms category.
She joined the company in November 2015 on a six-month maternity cover contract and has since progressed through roles including Administration Manager and Group Operations Manager.
In 2025, she became the company’s first female director when she was appointed Operations Director.
FUW Insurance Services Ltd Chair, Ann Beynon OBE said: “On behalf of everyone at FUW Insurance Services, we’re thrilled that Nia, Meleri, and Karen have been recognised in the prestigious Women in Insurance Awards.
“Their nominations reflect not only their talent and hard work, but also the progress we’ve made as a business in supporting and developing our female staff within the business.
“The awards are an important way to celebrate the achievements of women in our industry and to promote diversity and inclusion.
“We are proud to support that, and even prouder to see our colleagues being recognised in this way. We wish them the very best of luck.”
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