Manufacturers call for a reverse in NIC and working right changes ahead of budget

88% of the companies questioned by personalised workwear specialist MyWorkwear would like to see a U-turn by the chancellor, with nearly two thirds (63%) stating that NICs and minimum wage increases have already had a negative impact on their performance. 

Almost half of firms (45%) are worried that they will struggle to survive the next five years. And, in a stark message to the government, more than three quarters (77%) of management teams said they would not vote for Labour if a snap-election was held tomorrow.

"We work very closely with thousands of businesses in the manufacturing sector to provide their PPE and workwear and it’s fair to say that it’s been a challenging year for the industry,” explained James Worthington, co-owner of MyWorkwear.

"Our data shows that when manufacturers looked back to the Autumn Statement in 2024, only 48% said their business fortunes had improved since then, whereas 52% said that there had either been no change or things had worsened.

"With the budget looming on the horizon, the results indicate that the current government can’t afford to get on the wrong side of business again with new tax rises and more regulation," he continued.

128 business leaders were questioned as part of the Business Confidence Report by MyWorkwear. 

The survey showed that some companies were still prepared to invest in branded workwear, with it being voted the least likely internal cost businesses were having to reduce.

It also highlighted that branded workwear was the second most popular brand awareness tool being utilised by companies, second only to digital marketing.

For further information or to access the full survey, please visit: https://www.myworkwear.co.uk/content/89-the-myworkwear-business-confidence-report-2025