Local entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of Great Yarmouth’s economy, providing jobs, training and vital services that make our borough thrive. Since 6 April 2025, however, every payroll in town has faced a fresh squeeze: the Labour Government raised the employer National Insurance rate from 13.8 % to 15 % and lowered the threshold at which those contributions kick in from £9,100 to £5,000. That means a bigger bill for every member of staff you employ.
On paper, ministers argue that the higher Employment Allowance will soften the blow for the smallest firms, yet the figures still translate into a 25 % jump in National Insurance contributions for a business paying the average local wage, with far larger percentage increases for lower‑paid roles in retail, hospitality and care. I want to know how those numbers feel in the real world: on your shop floor, at your quay‑side workshop, or behind your café counter or pub bar.
That is why I’m running the short survey below. Your answers will help me present a fact‑based case to our borough council, arguing for action and highlighting the true cost of these changes to jobs and growth in Great Yarmouth. Please spare two minutes to complete it - your voice matters.
Confidentiality: Individual responses will be anonymised. Aggregated findings may be shared with Great Yarmouth Borough Council, local and social media, and MPs to advocate for better support.