VIVID responds to the Autumn Budget 2021

Duncan Brown, Chief Finance Officer at VIVID, shares his thoughts on the Budget:

"Although housing wasn’t the focus of this Autumn Budget there were some announcements for the sector to reflect on.  

"The levelling up agenda was the theme running throughout the budget and we can’t ignore the role housing plays in supporting this. We know there’s a strong link between someone’s housing situation and their life chances. So, continuing to build more good quality affordable homes will support this agenda.   

"We were pleased to hear about the change to the Universal Credit taper rate. We have seen the number of our customers on Universal Credit more than double since the start of the pandemic so we know the difference this will make for people in low paid jobs. But we’re disappointed the Government didn’t help more with rising household costs like food prices, energy and fuel costs. We’ll continue to support our customers when things get tough, helping them claim the income they are entitled to, support them into employment and training, developing digital skills making sure their home provides the foundation for their wellbeing."