Andy Burnham is set to call for a "culture shift" in British business practices when he hosts a series of meetings with entrepreneurs and business leaders at Downing Street on Monday, positioning the government as a "partner for growth". The prime minister says Britain has "everything it needs to succeed" but must make it easier to start and grow companies, with government backing ambition and risk-taking, as he seeks to bolster investment and job creation across the country.

The Downing Street schedule includes a roundtable chaired by Burnham with founders of firms such as Octopus Energy, Revolut and Starling Bank, followed by a reception with regional mayors and chief executives of major companies including HSBC, Rolls-Royce, Morrisons, BAE and Shell. The event comes as Burnham and Chancellor John Healey prepare for their first Budget on 28 October, amid rising borrowing costs, weak growth and pressure from the Iran war on the global economy, with economists warning of a possible "Budget headache" if momentum stalls; both ministers remain bound by Rachel Reeves's fiscal rules and Labour's manifesto pledge not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT. Shadow business secretary Julia Lopez criticised Labour's "jobs tax" and called instead for welfare and business tax cuts.