2025 Spending Review: Doncaster Chamber of Commerce Responds

Following the first Spending Review from Chancellor Rachel Reeves, we at Doncaster Chamber respond to the headline measures with cautious optimism.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport’s explicit mention in the Chancellor’s speech is a significant step forward and a firm indication that the airport’s reopening continues to resonate at the highest levels of Government.

Elsewhere, the Spending Review included positive commitments around infrastructure, skills, innovation and regional growth. Yet for all their promise, these are long-term shifts that will take years to deliver. In the meantime, the businesses hardest hit by last Autumn’s Budget are unlikely to experience immediate relief.

The record annual R&D funding by 2029, alongside the £2 billion National AI Action Plan, represents a strong step forward. We also welcome the expansion of the British Business Bank with additional lending capacity, especially if this enables faster, more visible access to capital for SMEs.

That said, we urge the government to act in the best interests of small businesses and address challenges which continue to weigh heavily on local employers.

On to supporting our high streets, the creation of a new Local Growth Mission Fund could help to deliver on our vision for a vibrant, inclusive Doncaster city centre by 2035. However, we urge Government to avoid drawn-out competitive bidding rounds and convoluted processes. Doncaster needs fast, decisive investment that puts local priorities front and centre.

The announcement of justice reforms and new prison places also has local relevance, given Doncaster is home to HMP Doncaster and HMP Hatfield. We will continue to advocate for the inclusion of local SMEs in the associated supply chains for this and other public sector infrastructure projects.

Connectivity remains central to Doncaster’s economic potential, and we are renewing our call for urgent commitments on Northern Powerhouse Rail and local transport upgrades following yesterday’s announcement.

Given our collaborative work already underway across South Yorkshire through our Local Skills Improvement Plan, we naturally support the Government’s annual investment to support over a million young people into apprenticeships and training. This investment will add to work already underway to shape the skills we need today for the workforce of the future in South Yorkshire.

Our Key Asks:

· Immediate release of Local Growth Fund for regeneration

· Urgent reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport

· Clear timelines and investment for Northern Powerhouse Rail and regional transport

· Ongoing support for local defence, energy, and health sectors

· Skills and training aligned with LSIP priorities

 

This Spending Review lays the foundations for a potential era of economic renewal. But the businesses we represent will be watching closely to see how and when these pledges are delivered. It is vital that Government works with local partners, cuts through bureaucracy, and creates an enabling environment for inclusive, business-led growth.

Sian Booth, Head of Policy and Partnerships, Doncaster Chamber