Southeast business leaders to examine Autumn Budget impact at free Crawley briefing

Business leaders from across the Southeast will gather in Crawley on Thursday 29 October for a Budget briefing and panel discussion organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Southeast and Gatwick Diamond Growth Gateway.

The free event, hosted at Elekta, will take place the day after the Chancellor delivers the Autumn Budget on Wednesday 28 October. It will examine the implications of the government’s tax and spending announcements for businesses, employers and investors across the region.https://go2this.page/appg-budget-briefing

The briefing, entitled The Budget, Briefed: What It Means for Southeast Business, will feature Mims Davies MP; Mark Rogers of the Sussex & Brighton Strategic Authority; Vincent McGovern of WineGB; and Brett North of Gatwick Diamond Business (gdb). The panel will discuss the Budget’s implications for the regional economy, business investment, infrastructure and future growth.

The event will include a summary of the Budget announcements affecting businesses, followed by a panel discussion and an opportunity for attendees to raise questions. The session will consider how national fiscal decisions could affect business confidence, investment and economic development across the Southeast.

The APPG brings together parliamentarians and regional stakeholders to examine issues affecting economic growth and development across the Southeast and Gatwick Diamond. Feedback gathered during the briefing will help inform the Group’s future priorities and engagement with government, providing an opportunity for businesses to contribute evidence of how national policy decisions affect their operations and plans.

Panel speaker Brett North, Gatwick Diamond Business, said: “Businesses need more than a summary of what’s been announced. They need to understand what it means for their costs, their people and their plans. Just as importantly, we want to hear their reactions. This is a chance to turn the Budget from a Westminster announcement into a proper conversation about what our region needs to grow.”

The briefing takes place on Thursday 29 October 2026, from 2pm at Elekta, London Road, Crawley, RH10 9BL. Attendance is free, with places limited. Businesses and regional stakeholders can register their interest at https://go2this.page/appg-budget-briefing.