Column: Somerset Chamber's response to business rates cut

However, there are many other businesses across hospitality and the wider economy that continue to face significant cost challenges.

I know my colleagues at Visit Somerset, the county’s tourism and leisure representative body, share my sentiments, and we released a joint statement to say the measures do not go far enough and wider reform is needed to support businesses across all sectors facing ongoing cost pressures.

We urged the government to avoid resorting to headline-grabbing measures if they were serious about supporting a sustainable visitor economy.

Businesses need meaningful, long-term reform that drives growth and investment.

Businesses have navigated years of economic disruption, rising energy costs, inflationary pressures, and wider global uncertainty.

While targeted support is positive, the need for wider business rates reform remains.

Here in Somerset, the visitor economy alone is worth £1.3bn, accounts for around seven per cent of the local economy, and supports approximately 24,000 full-time equivalent jobs.

It is a vital sector for our county and one that requires much greater attention if it is to reach its full potential.

The announcement on removing VAT from domestic electricity bills has demonstrated that the government is prepared to look again at tax measures where there is a compelling economic case.

A reduction in VAT for visitor economy businesses would be a genuinely transformative change for a sector that badly needs support and needs it urgently.

Many firms continue to identify business rates as a growing concern, particularly in hospitality, manufacturing, and transport.

Any action to reduce that burden is welcome, but businesses will be looking for further detail on how the government intends to deliver its wider commitment to reform the system.