INDUSTRY | NEWS 5 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk January | February 2026 - Issue 358 The UK government has announced its latest raft of fiscal rules which look to improve the state of the economy. PwC, a provider of business advice, has described the Budget as a “tax and save budget” rather than a “tax and spend” budget. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) says Britain's households are facing a "dismal" rise in spending power as disposable income is expected to grow by just 0.5% annually over the next five years. Charles Jarrold, chief executive officer of the BPIF, comments: “While this year’s Budget may not have the catastrophic impact of last year’s employer NIC hike, there were some measures which will nonetheless raise the cost of employment and squeeze businesses further. The increases to National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW), though smaller than in recent years, continue to cause real anxiety and concern for our members.” Budget announcements from the government regarding business investment include a service providing advance tax certainty for large UK inbound projects, the retainment of full expensing for main-rate plant and machinery, and an extension to Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR). The government says it is not raising taxes on businesses overall, pointing to the fact it maintains the lowest CT rate in the G7 (25%) and is introducing targeting relief for SMEs and high street firms. The government also says that doubling eligibility for enterprise tax incentives along with UK list relief and ISA reforms will help businesses grow and attract investment. Jarrold adds: “This Budget was always going to be tough for the chancellor, but the business community has made it abundantly clear that loading more costs onto business will lead to lower investment, hampered productivity, and fewer jobs. “Taxing salary sacrificed pension contributions will see NI bills rise yet again, and the new levy on electric cars will either add costs or simply disincentivise the switch to EVs, with EVs the leading area of investment reported in our member surveys. We’re also concerned about the potential hit to members with a muted increase on rates for buildings valued at more than £500,000. We’ll keep a close eye on what the indicated 'transition support' measures will actually comprise of.” Jarrold highlights that the print industry has called on policies which promote investment and growth, pointing to the full expensing of leased assets as a welcome policy, but one that could have been broadened to include second-hand assets. Jarrold concludes: “Without bolder reforms to lower employment costs and encourage investment in people, skills, and equipment, it will remain challenging for businesses to contribute to the growth we all want to see.” Rachel Reeves [pictured centre] with the iconic red Budget Box as she leaves 11 Downing Street with other government officials Koenig & Bauer launches financial literacy initiative Koenig & Bauer has emphasised the importance of printed money with an educational project for children and a supporting white paper. Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions has launched a cash-based learning system called ‘MoneyBox’, which is designed to make financial education available to children and young people worldwide. Developed alongside educational non-profit, Aflatoun International, The MoneyBox system is based on the principle that financial understanding begins with physical interaction, especially for young people. The system includes a range of printed banknotes which serve as a central element in an interconnected learning system, following a specific plan that mirrors real challenges and decisions that learners will face in their lives. With four compartments for earnings, spending, saving, and borrowing, the aim is to make abstract financial concepts visible, relatable, and culturally adaptable. Alongside this, Koenig & Bauer has published a whitepaper to create awareness of the role of physical cash in the development of youth money skills. Royal Mail has announced that previously confirmed reforms to UK mail services will not be implemented nationwide until the first half of this year. International Distribution Services (IDS), the parent company of Royal Mail, announced a delay to its new delivery reforms in November 2025, including plans to end second-class letter deliveries on Saturdays and changing the service to every other weekday. The major changes to the Universal Postal Service (UPS) were announced in February 2025 and came into legal effect on July 28th 2025. Royal Mail has since been running a pilot scheme across a selection of delivery offices. Royal Mail recently disclosed that fewer than three-quarters of first-class letters were delivered on time over recent months, as they prepare for the upcoming service overhaul. Experts react to long-awaited Autumn Budget Royal Mail delays major service changes By David Osgar MoneyBox aims to make abstract financial concepts relatable, with printed banknotes and four compartments for earnings, spending, saving, and borrowing Mail solutions provider, Quadient, has labelled the news “a setback” By Jonathan Pert By Jonathan Pert
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