However,  a decision to go ahead with the 0.5% increases in employee and employer National Insurance contributions - a ‘tax on jobs'-  is making it more expensive for retailers to take people on. This could have been a long term measure, such as a solid plan which would counter the reduction or withdrawal of trade credit insurance that undermines many retailers' ability to trade. The proposed ‘top-up scheme' is "much needed but this is too little too late", as described by Jane Milne, BRC business director. Moreover even this safety net is likely to be denied to companies whose cover was cut before 1 April.

Another short-term measure was to give retailers the option of postponing part of this April's 5% annual increase in business rate, because next April they will still have to bear large increases as a result of business rates evaluation and Business Rates Supplements.

An example of true foresight would have been an introduction (at last!) of some financial measures encouraging the replacement of old appliances, some of which are incredibly wasteful of energy - a move which would have made a big difference not only to the electrical industry but also for the environment and to the Government's green credentials.

However, true long-term thinking, beyond the party term in office, hasn't been on the government's agenda for a long while. So much, however, could be adopted into a public arena from the small business model where strategic thinking often goes beyond the next generation.

Anna Ryland, Editor

aryland@datateam.co.uk