Angela Carney, participates in Talking Point: Adapting to a changing landscape - North East Times

The UK government’s Autumn Budget has sparked much debate, particularly around the proposed fiscal framework to rebuild an economy battered by recent challenges.

One area that particularly stood out to me is the "Get Britain Growing Again" plan, which aims to tackle economic inactivity and boost employment. The statistics are stark with 2.8m out of work due to long-term sickness and one in eight young people neither in education nor employment. The £240 million investment to address these issues, along with a National Jobs and Careers Service and local leadership from mayors and councils, is a much-needed step toward providing opportunities and reducing inactivity.

For the construction sector, the government's emphasis on Skills England is a welcome initiative. As the industry faces a growing skills shortage, with many experienced workers approaching retirement, attracting young talent is critical. The focus on boosting skills and training could help bridge this gap by showcasing construction as an exciting and rewarding career choice. We must highlight the range of career opportunities available within the sector—from project management to skilled trades—and work to make the industry more inclusive, encouraging diversity and ensuring that people from all demographics feel welcomed. This is a long overdue and critical focus and I’m hopeful it will help transform the public perception of construction, making it a more attractive path for the next generation.

While policies like these are crucial, I also believe that success comes down to mindset. As business owners, we face constant challenges, but the ones who thrive are those with a growth mindset and the belief that we can always learn, adapt and improve. Those who think they can grow will find opportunities, even in difficult times. Conversely, those who think they can’t, will likely stay stagnant. Government can provide tools, but we must build with them.

In the end, Governments come and go. It’s up to each of us to decide: Will we push for growth, or will we choose to stay where we are? The government’s policies, especially around employment and tackling inactivity, are positive, but they can only go so far. What makes or breaks many businesses is the mindset of leaders and whether they can embrace change and be unrelenting in their mission to grow.

Only time will tell if labour’s strategy will have positive impact but, one thing is certain, business moves faster than government policies. Together, we can find solutions to complex issues that threaten the economy via knowledge transfer and collaboration both within individual sectors and between sectors.