A Southampton fish and chip empire has warned the latest Budget has made life even harder for small business owners as they face "the toughest time they have ever seen".
John and Sonny Lee, joint owners of J-Henrys Fish and Chips, say small businesses are being overlooked while costs continue to spiral.
“We feel like we’re the thriving part of many communities, villages, towns, and yet there’s no help at all,” John Lee told GB News.
“Walk down your local high street and half the shops are empty. What incentive is there to open and run a small business?”
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His brother Sony Lee added: “The minimum wage for 18 to 21-year-olds has gone up by 8.5 per cent.
“Most of our staff are in that bracket. That’s a huge hit to our wage bill.
“It might be good for employees in the short term, but in the long run, we can’t take on as many staff, so they could actually lose out.”
Frustration continues over last year’s Budget hike in employer National Insurance, which critics say has put pressure on the jobs market.
The Fish and chip shop owners said this is the 'toughest time they have seen'
|GB NEWS
This year, the Chancellor announced that the minimum wage is set to rise, clobbering businesses yet again.
Sony Lee explained: “Our dad started this business back in 1988. Over the years, we’ve given many young people their first jobs in life.
“And what’s the incentive anymore? Yes, it’s good for the employee because their wages are going up, but for us, it could mean that instead of three staff members tonight, we only have two. We might have to cut the staff bill down.
“In the long term, that means fewer young people get the chance to work with us.
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“Depending on how many hours they do, they might also be pushed into paying tax as a result of the wage increase, so they won’t be that much better off.
“On the surface, it seems good, but some may end up in the next tax bracket.”
Announcing the rise in wages, Ms Reeves insisted she is supporting businesses while protecting jobs and the economy.
“That's why we've secured trade deals with the US, with the EU, and with India,” she said.
“It's why we're committed to economic stability. To help interest rates fall further.
“It is why we have capped corporation tax, and why we're reforming business rates, particularly so that they help the high street.”
John Lee explained: “We like to offer a cheaper alternative. We've bought in Pollock.
“Now we're doing that at lunch times with Pollock and Chip for just £5.95.
“We are looking at different things, ways to diversify and keep the business moving forward.
“Dad started it in 1988, and he said to us, this is the toughest times he's ever seen.”
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