Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, today delivered her Budget.

Here are some early reactions.

Steve Rushton, Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire apprenticeship ambassador and Managing Director of Training and Business Solutions Ltd said the Budget offered hope for younger adults.

“The Chancellor’s Budget announcement that apprenticeships for under-25s will be fully funded for small and medium-sized businesses is a hugely positive step forward.

“I’m genuinely excited about these changes. They have the potential to transform opportunities for young people while giving organisations the talent, skills, and workforce stability they need to thrive.

“The Chancellor said ‘alongside the new Youth Guarantee, backed by £820 million over three years, every young person will now be guaranteed a place at college, an apprenticeship, or personalised job-support. This will make a significant difference—especially for young adults over 21 who previously struggled due to limited funded apprenticeship opportunities’. This matters, it will mean more opportunities, fewer barriers: Young people who may have dropped out of college or struggled to find training will still be able to access a funded apprenticeship.

“It reduces costs for SMEs because businesses will no longer carry the financial burden of training apprentices over 21, making it far easier to invest in young talent. This can fill  skills gaps, as all business sectors will benefit from a stronger pipeline of skilled individuals, helping address long-standing shortages.

“There will also be fewer NEETs, with guaranteed routes into education, training, or work support, we should see a reduction in young people who are not in education, employment, or training.

“Fully funded apprenticeships for under-25s provide a major financial and operational advantage for SMEs.  Companies can train both new apprentices and existing younger staff from the ground up, developing a skilled, dedicated workforce.  Apprenticeships are proven to increase loyalty, engagement, and job satisfaction, helping with retention. Organisations can future-proof their workforce, bring in fresh talent (including ex-college students), and create meaningful workforce development pathways.

“Young people benefit from more funded routes into work and training, and development of transferable skills that strengthen long-term employability. It gives a supported, meaningful start to their careers—with opportunities that may previously have been out of reach.”

The reaction was mixed from Keith Bott MBE, Managing Director of Titanic Brewery, based in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent,

said “It is certainly welcome that the Chancellor has recognised the unfairness of the current Business Rates system which penalises traditional businesses and benefits the digital economy, we look forward to understanding the detail.

“It is disappointing that the Chancellor did not choose to support pubs further by reducing the duty rate on draught beer.  Instead she chose to increase all alcohol duties from February 1, which continues increasing the differential between the price of a drink in the safe supervised environment of the pub to guzzling cheap supermarket booze at home.”

Pensions expert Danny Hattersley was disappointed by changes to salary sacrifice limits on pensions.

The Chancellor introduced a £2,000 cap on salary sacrifice income into a pension. Higher amounts will be taxed in the same way as other employee pension contributions.

Danny, Director, Danny Hattersley Financial Planning, Lymedale Business Park, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

“It is disappointing to see a benefit of paying in to a pension and protecting your long term future being taken away from some people. The pension industry needs stability not constant changes. But this will discourage people from paying in to the pension and increase the tax burden on SME businesses.

“Salary sacrifice arrangements also encourages businesses to contribute more into employees pension and that option will now be lost.”