Budget Breakfast 2026: A Direct Conversation on the Island’s Economic Future
25 February 2026
Last Friday (20th Feb), we welcomed almost 100 members to Looky’s for our 2026 Budget Breakfast. The atmosphere was engaged and relaxed, but the discussion was serious. Questions were direct, commercially grounded and reflected the pressures currently facing business.
Just 29 days into the role, the Treasury Minister delivered a calm and measured overview of the Budget, followed by a candid and constructive Q&A. It was a valuable opportunity for members to hear directly from the new Minister on the issues that matter most to business.
Healthcare sustainability, public sector payroll, minimum wage policy, connectivity and economic data were all raised from the floor. The session gave members the chance to test priorities, challenge assumptions and understand the direction of travel.
We closed the morning with a short but focused conversation with Chris Corlett, Chamber’s 2026 Election Lead, who outlined why the economy must be central to the upcoming General Election and how Chamber’s Election Taskforce will support that work.
Huge thank you to our event sponsor Grant Thornton, our tech partners ELS, and Looky’s Bar for hosting and supporting the morning.
The full post-event briefing captures the key themes and responses discussed on the day.
Read the full paper here.
View the Minister's slides here.