Populus Select

Sim Hall, managing director of STEM specialist recruitment firm Populus Select, said:

“If the Government truly wants to make the UK a ‘Science Superhouse’ as it says, then it needs to use this Budget to set out its stall. If we are to compete globally for investment and innovation, we urgently need to do more to attract big players.

“I work with science and engineering firms across the world and my clients tell me that other countries are doing a lot more than the UK to attract cutting edge firms, with the EU and US introducing huge subsidies.

“Changes to corporation tax should be scrapped. At the very least, the blow could be softened with a continuation of the Super Deduction scheme and further support on research and development spending. That would go a long way, but alone may not be enough to put the UK at the forefront of an increasingly competitive playing field.”