Shirley small business owners react to Autumn Statement

Culture Caff is run by chef Aaron Stevens, who said he was worried about the impact of the living wage increase

Small business owners in a Southampton high street have reacted to the Chancellor's Autumn Statement.

Store owners along Shirley High Street say "every penny helps" after Jeremy Hunt's announcement.

The statement set out the government's tax and spending plans, including cutting National Insurance rates and increasing the Minimum Wage.

Gita Robinson said she was "pleased" to see business rate discounts would continue.

The 53-year-old, who opened her first shop - Bula Hardware - in August, said she would like the the tax reductions to become permanent.

She explained: "It's just for a year, if the government can do something long term for small businesses like mine then that will help us in doing our business on the high street."

Gita Robinson said she hoped the business tax reductions would become permanent

Aaron Stevens opened Culture Caff in October.

He said he understood the government increasing the living wage but feared this would add costs to his business.

The 38-year-old said: "It's tough - you have to dip into your own pocket and make sure that everybody's wages get paid because if you're not busy you've still got to pay the wages."

He added he was not willing to pass costs on to his customers.

"I think the smaller people are struggling," he said, adding: "The bigger people are winning and the smaller companies are struggling."

Shirley High Street in Southampton has seen a number of shops closing down in recent times

Glenn Johnson, owner of craft ale house Craft 101, used redundancy money to get started after leaving a job in IT.

The 48-year-old said: "It's a massive risk. If this goes wrong, it will financially take me down but I think if people can see the love you have put into something then they will support you."

Mr Johnson welcomed the freeze on alcohol duty and business rates discounts but said he had mixed feelings about wage increases.

He added: "Sometimes it feels like they put it in one hand and take away with another".

Glenn Johnson opened Craft 101 aid he didn't think 'it was a bad autumn statement'

He said the success of the business over the next few months would depend on whether people wanted to go out and spend money.

"In the end, it's about perception, it's about how much money you've got in your pocket," he said. "I think overall today's announcements are beneficial, I don't think it's a bad Autumn Statement."

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