76% of C-suite leaders call for AI & automation investment in Reeves’ Spring Statement

With rumours of major spending cuts in the upcoming Spring Statement, new research reveals what C-suite leaders actually want – with investment in the future, rather than cost-cutting measures, being the central focus. The study of UK C-suite executives by operations strategy and transformation consultancy Argon & Co finds that 70% want increased investment in technologies such as AI, smart warehousing, and data analytics to modernise supply chains and maintain competitiveness amid escalating global trade tensions.

Meanwhile, 62% of UK C-suite leaders are calling for greater investment in workforce development, particularly in long-term skills training and apprenticeship schemes. In the logistics and automotive industries, this figure rises to 80% and 76% respectively, reflecting the ageing workforce and difficulty in attracting young talent into these sectors.

“Sectors like logistics, supply chain, and manufacturing are the backbone of the UK economy – from delivering the food on our tables, to the medicines we need. However, these industries often get pushed to the wayside,” Ben Wright, Managing Principal at Argon & Co says. “C-suite leaders are demanding investment to build next-generation supply chains and address skills gaps, ensuring the UK stays competitive amid global trade chaos. We urge Reeves to prioritise these industries and take bold action to future-proof our economy.”

On the physical supply chain side, 57% of UK C-suite and operations leaders want to see more government support for automation and robotics to boost efficiency in manufacturing and logistics. These sectors have long grappled with labour shortages and rising wages, with robotics emerging as a key solution to bridge productivity gaps.

Cutting red tape is another key demand, with 52% of UK C-suite leaders surveyed urging governments to streamline logistics and trade bureaucracy.

“Inevitably, Brexit has added layers of bureaucracy that slow down UK trade, but AI and automation can help cut through this complexity,” Wright concludes. “With such strong demand for AI investment, there’s a clear opportunity for Reeves to embrace technology investment to reduce inefficiencies, simplify global trade, and build more resilient supply chains.”