Autumn Budget 2026: UK and US connected business

The Chancellor highlighted that the UK recorded the joint-fastest GDP growth in the G7 during the first half of 2026. The House of Commons Library identifies the US as the other joint-fastest economy.

This provides an encouraging backdrop for British businesses with international ambitions. Rather than viewing the UK and US as competing choices, businesses may maximise their chances of success by considering how the strengths and opportunities of both markets can support their growth.

Founder support for businesses growing internationally

The new scale-up programme for women founders and the introduction of Founders’ Relief are both positive developments. They recognise that access to capital and an appropriate reward for long-term value creation are important if the UK is to produce more successful growth businesses.

The wider opportunity is to help more of those businesses turn their UK foundations into international success, including by winning customers, attracting investment, and expanding into America. The British Business Bank has developed a pipeline of more than £100 million of commitments to women-led funds, alongside the Government’s new programme to help women founders overcome barriers to fundraising and growth.

Founders’ Relief and US growth

There are some encouraging features within the proposed Founders’ Relief rules for internationally ambitious businesses. In particular, the 25% ownership condition is tested when the original trade, or preparations for that trade, commenced, rather than at disposal. Relief would not be restricted to the founder’s original shares and the ownership condition may be met through the holding company of a trading group.

This may provide useful flexibility where a founder’s ownership is subsequently diluted as the business attracts investment and grows.

However, the company must maintain a “substantial UK presence” for the five accounting periods before disposal, and the consultation does not define what that requires. The published proposals also do not expressly address how employees working in America would be treated for the minimum employee requirement or the employee-growth test.

These will be important points for businesses that remain rooted in the UK while building customers, operations and employment in America.

Building on both sides of the Atlantic

The Budget provides a positive platform for founders and businesses with international ambitions. The opportunity is to combine a strong UK base with the customers, capital and scale available in the US.

The UK and US are two of the world’s strongest markets for ambitious businesses. Those that consider both markets together, rather than treating them as competing choices, will give themselves the best possible platform for long-term growth and international success.

Discover our latest expert analysis and practical guidance on the measures announced in the Autumn Budget 2026 on our Budget Hub.