So how was it for you?

Business wanted a Budget that was disciplined, focused, and geared towards the creation of wealth and jobs – and from where I’m sitting that’s what the Chancellor delivered.

With a huge confidence gap still separating employers from young jobseekers, it was good to see the Chancellor putting in initiatives to help firms take on and train tomorrow’s workforce.

Overcoming that confidence gap means more investment in young people, more apprenticeships, and more jobs, which are critical with more than 7,800 16- to-24-year-olds in Kent & Medway still out of work.

That equates to 3.9% of all 16- to 24-year-olds in Kent and Medway. Compared to the national average of 4.1% we aren’t doing that bad, but compared to the wider South East at 2.5% we owe it to our own people to open up job opportunities.

The focus on investment, exports, house-building and economic resilience passes the business test.

By making a better business environment his top priority, the Chancellor has recognised successful and confident companies are the key to transforming Britain’s growing economic recovery into one that is felt in homes and on high streets.

As with any Budget, there were some crowd-pleasing measures that were not at the top of business’s wish list. With an election next year, this was only to be expected.

Luckily, these were far outweighed by considered measures to support business growth and wealth creation.

At the upcoming general election, Britain’s entire political class must commit to a long-term programme that delivers better infrastructure, a stronger skills base, access to finance for growing companies, even more export support and a clear, consistent tax environment.

Better infrastructure, a stronger skills base, and better access to finance and export support are key priorities of the Kent & Medway Economic Partnership’s Growth Plan.

With national, county and local government working alongside business for the same outcomes, we might at last be getting somewhere.