Autumn Statement briefing at AFC conference: what to expect

Opening Plenary Session at the AFC UK Autumn Conference 2025

Just one day before the Chancellor takes to the despatch box, delegates at the AFC UK Autumn Conference 2025 will gain an invaluable head start with a quick-fire, practical briefing on the Autumn Statement, designed to help lenders, funders and intermediaries anticipate, interpret, and act before the headlines land.

This year’s opening plenary session brings together a powerful line-up of economists, industry leaders and policy experts to decode what’s likely to come from the Treasury, and what it could mean for business and the wider economy.

Setting the scene: economic outlook and market impact

Leading the session will be Debapratim De (“Debo”), Director of Economic Research at Deloitte, who will provide a forward-looking analysis of the likely themes, forecasts and market dynamics surrounding the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.

Debo will explore the big questions shaping the outlook for UK growth, inflation, taxation, and investment – and what to watch when the numbers are released. His insight will help attendees understand how the Statement could shape economic sentiment and the cost of capital across the finance and leasing landscape.

Industry perspectives: from policy to practice

Following the economic briefing, an expert panel of practitioners from across the asset, auto, equipment, and receivables finance sectors will discuss the practical implications for their markets.

Speakers include:

Alex Hughes, Country Manager (UK & Ireland) and Head of European Markets, CA Auto Bank
Karima Haji, Managing Director, Scania Financial Services UK
Lee Rhodes, Commercial Director, Asset Finance, Aldermore Bank PLC
Simon Goldie, Director of Business Finance & Advocacy, Finance & Leasing Association (FLA)
Zohra Chagani, Senior Policy Advisor, British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA)

Together, they will explore:

How fiscal policy decisions could influence funding costs, SME demand and investment appetite.
The likely impact on lenders’ and intermediaries’ risk strategies, product design, and pricing.
What changes in public spending and business incentives might mean for sectors dependent on capital investment.

Engagement and advocacy in a digital era

The session will also look at how industry trade bodies – notably the FLA and BVRLA – are engaging with government and regulators in a social-media-first policy environment. With public debate on business finance now more immediate and more visible, understanding how the sector’s collective voice is represented has never been more important.

Key takeaways

Attendees will leave this session ready to:

Spot the key signals in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement and interpret their implications for growth, inflation, taxation, and investment.
Understand how lenders are positioning themselves ahead of potential shifts in risk appetite, funding conditions, and customer demand.
Gain insight into how trade associations are influencing policy, representing industry priorities, and communicating with both government and the public.

Why attend?

Delivered on the eve of the Autumn Statement, this opening plenary is your opportunity to be one step ahead – with practical intelligence, cross-sector perspectives, and actionable insights to help shape business strategy and client conversations in the days and weeks ahead.

Date: Tuesday 25 November 2025
Location: County Hall etc.venues, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 7PB, UK
Find out more or register now: afcconferenceuk.com/Nov25