The lead-up to the Autumn Budget felt like a whirlwind of preparation and anticipation for one of this year’s most scrutinised financial and political events. This Budget was particularly historic, as it marked the first time a female Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, delivered a financial statement, adding an extra layer of significance to an already momentous occasion. 

Over the last few weeks, our mornings have begun with a scan of the latest economic forecasts and political commentary with the help of Google Alerts and Signal AI, while our afternoons have been spent digging into any hints of potential policy shifts. Staying plugged into the news agenda quickly became routine as we tried to anticipate what announcements might be made and how we could help our clients respond. As we learnt very quickly, preparation is everything!

Watching the Budget live for the first time was unlike anything we could have imagined. We joined our colleagues around the screen, ready to jot down key details and reactions. Watching it all unfold live was unlike any post-budget summaries we’d ever read before. Seeing the rapid flow of announcements and the immediate implications for our clients brought a new level of energy to the day. The stakes were more tangible, and there was a real sense of urgency in deciding how to communicate these changes clearly and proactively to our clients.

Not only was it interesting to see how our fellow Vesties were communicating the relevant announcements to clients, but also to see how they were able to respond quickly and issue comments to the media. By working with our clients to have pre-drafted commentary approved, we were able to have our finger on the pulse and issue comments in a timely manner, helping to ensure coverage for our clients. We also learnt that the devil is in the detail when it comes to the Budget document – with the full document often including extra measures that weren’t included in the Chancellor’s speech. By scanning through the full document, you will ensure that no page is left unturned.

The Budget may have only just been delivered, but the dust has yet to settle. There is likely to be a media frenzy over the coming weeks about how it landed, so we will be closely monitoring the news agenda to see how this unfolds…