Following John Healey MP’s first major speech since becoming Chancellor of the Exchequer, in which he pledged to “draw a line” under rising business costs and put growth at the centre of the Autumn Budget on 28 October, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) is calling on him to ensure environmental horticulture is recognised as a sector that can help deliver that growth.
The HTA says stronger support for the sector would boost economic and social resilience, green infrastructure and investment, while warning that its member businesses need immediate relief from rising costs if they are to grow.
Environmental horticulture contributes £38 billion to UK GDP, generates nearly £8.4 billion in tax revenues and supports 722,000 jobs. But the HTA says businesses are being held back from investing, with employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and the National Living Wage alone adding an estimated £134 million a year to industry costs, alongside rising energy bills, business rates and regulatory pressures.
The Association welcomed the Chancellor’s recognition that businesses are facing increasing costs from labour, energy, regulation and planning, but says the Autumn Budget must now translate that acknowledgement into practical measures that unlock investment and job creation across sectors, including environmental horticulture.
Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the HTA, said:
“The question for this Budget is not simply what the government can give to horticulture. It is what horticulture can deliver for the country if the government creates the conditions for businesses to invest, employ people and grow.
“Environmental horticulture helps cool our towns and cities, manage flood risk, support healthier communities and create places where people want to live, work and invest. Recognising green infrastructure as critical infrastructure is not just good for our sector; it is an investment in economic resilience, public health and long-term growth.
“Environmental horticulture is a sector ready to invest in people, technology, UK production and climate resilience, but businesses cannot do that while they are facing another layer of costs and uncertainty. An additional £134 million a year in employment costs, alongside rising business rates, energy costs and regulatory pressures, means money that could be creating jobs, building skills and driving innovation is instead being absorbed by the cost of doing business.
“The Chancellor has an opportunity to change that. We need a Budget that backs investment, not just consumption, and gives businesses the confidence to grow. If businesses can invest, the benefits reach far beyond horticulture.”
The HTA’s submission calls for action in three key areas.
Reduce financial and regulatory barriers undermining UK businesses’ ability to invest and grow
The HTA is calling for the Autumn Budget to match the Chancellor’s commitment to reducing the cost of doing business by reversing the increase in employer NICs, accelerating Business Rates reform and carrying out an immediate post-implementation review of the Employment Rights Act, including day-one Statutory Sick Pay.
The Association is also highlighting the role environmental horticulture can play in tackling youth unemployment and supporting young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs). The sector offers accessible, practical and flexible entry-level roles, from seasonal work through to apprenticeships.
But rising employment costs and regulatory pressures risk making businesses more cautious about hiring. The HTA is therefore calling for the employer NIC threshold to be increased to £6,000 and for the differentiated National Living Wage for younger workers to be maintained.
It is also seeking greater access to finance and R&D support for UK growers to invest in automation, irrigation robotics and AI, alongside changes to ensure businesses can effectively benefit from the Growth and Skills Levy.
Recognise that improvements to climate resilience, infrastructure, and health and community outcomes boost productivity and growth
The HTA wants a cross-government taskforce established to recognise how environmental horticulture can contribute to economic growth, climate adaptation and community health.
It is also calling for a long-term water resilience strategy focused on capturing and storing water during wetter months. Growers and garden centres account for just 0.2% of total UK water consumption, yet face repeated restrictions in the ever-increasing hot, dry summers that can undermine their ability to supply and maintain green infrastructure.
The submission also calls for government funding for therapeutic horticulture pilots across the UK. Green spaces were estimated to save the NHS £111 million a year in 2018, equivalent to £148 million in 2026 prices, in reduced GP visits alone. A Trellis pilot in East Lothian recorded a 67% reduction in GP appointments three months after the programme ended.
The HTA references research estimating that the UK economy will suffer at least £4.4 billion in lost productivity due to successive heatwaves from May to the end of July 2026. If green design and maintenance practices are integrated into planning from the beginning and incorporated into new housing and public spaces, the immediate benefits, such as improved cooling, better air quality, and increased property values, will result. This, in turn, will encourage more consumer spending as homeowners tap into their equity for investments or other purchases, leading to higher tax revenues and lowering the costs associated with retrofitting.
Deliver a UK-EU SPS Agreement with easements as soon as possible
The HTA also emphasises the importance of delivering a UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement as soon as possible and ensuring it is properly resourced for implementation.
79% of UK growers rely on plant imports, with 99% of those imports coming from the EU, making efficient trade essential to maintaining reliable supplies of plants and trees.
The HTA is calling for the UK-EU Summit to be rescheduled as soon as possible, alongside adequate resourcing across relevant DEFRA departments to ensure new systems and processes are fully digitised and do not create additional burdens for businesses. In addition, the HTA calls on the government to work in partnership with the sector to ensure that supply chains can be restored quickly and effectively.
The Association is also urging government to work with DEFRA and DAERA to support the trade of plants between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, where businesses continue to face additional costs, delays and supply constraints.
