Interesting to see the Budget today and the indicators government sees/sets for the UK economy and our society. Whilst there is economic slowdown, there is still much growth potential and A4e’s experience endorses the view outlined by the Chancellor that there is significant opportunity for exports, particularly service providers. Our international business has shown us that many UK businesses have fantastic potential in overseas market. We need to encourage businesses to explore, identify and take up these opportunities and we will aim to promote this through our business support services.

There was a fair bit of coverage on enterprise – and a new White Paper which we have made significant contribution to – and I am great advocate of raising the aspiration level of entrepreneurs, particularly young people. I was offered jobs in large companies but I wanted to grow a small business into an international one. Emma and I bumped into each other and we’re on that journey. We need to more in the UK to help people – particularly young people – gain ‘belief’ in aspiring to do create enterprise. I am also a strong advocate of supporting SME involvement in public service contracts – this is where I started out and A4e will support this.

Child poverty was also a key theme. Generational poverty in the UK is, in my opinion, the key challenge we face in tackling social and economic exclusion. It sits behind our services to support debt advice and our proposals to launch a new bank focused on supporting people trapped in a cycle of poverty. More importantly, it sits at the heart of the strategy we have for pulling together front line services across different public sector agencies and departments to provide better services for people using public services.

So, whilst the £125m to tackle child poverty and tax credits are both welcome approaches, much more exciting to me is the broader issue of joining up services for customers. To tackle, prevent and eradicate child poverty will need to join up services more effectively and innovate – we’re up for the challenge! We need to use these proposals to act as a catalyst for solutions and a magnet for other funding streams not the solution in itself.

The other things that struck me were the public service strategy. The government sets out a vision for dedicating the next decade to delivering better value, better quality, world class public services. This needs public, private and voluntary collaboration. I’m up for the ambition. The UK has the potential to be a world leader in front line public services and that aspiration – which is also echoed by the opposition – is one which A4e embraces and leads through its international strategy. As a leader in this global evolution of public services, we need to demonstrate how this knowledge transfer can work and be embedded and relevant in other communities and countries.