In this Insights in Focus episode, we discuss the major challenges facing UK businesses, including energy costs, recruitment and retention of staff, and wage inflation.    

Recent headlines haven’t made easy reading. A recession looms, inflation continues to rise, and sterling plunged following the ‘mini-Budget’ on 23 September. 

Understandably, businesses are nervous. ICAEW’s Business Confidence Monitor for Q3 2022 found business sentiment turning negative for the first time since late 2020. Businesses in all sectors and regions reported a ‘cost-of-doing-business’ crisis.

To explore what comes next, host Philippa Lamb is joined by Simon Gray, ICAEW Head of Business, and Katy Davies, Managing Director at manufacturer CamdenBoss.

Links
ICAEW inflation hub
https://www.icaew.com/technical/economy/inflation

ICAEW energy crisis hub
https://www.icaew.com/technical/economy/energy-crisis

ICAEW Business Confidence Monitor
https://www.icaew.com/technical/economy/economic-insight/business-confidence-monitor-national

ICAEW analysis and reaction to the mini-Budget
https://www.icaew.com/technical/Economy/fiscal-event-september-2022 

Host
Philippa Lamb

Guests
Simon Gray, Head of Business, ICAEW
Katy Davies, Managing Director, CamdenBoss

Producer
Natalie Chisholm 

Episode first published: 6 October 2022
Podcast recorded: 29 September 2022