Alex Depledge, the Treasury’s entrepreneurship adviser, has said she will leave her position on Thursday 29 October 2026, the day after the Chancellor’s Budget, after criticising the Government’s approach to Britain’s fast-growing businesses.
In an interview first reported by The Sunday Times, Depledge argued that ministers were placing too much emphasis on established industries while failing to give high-growth technology companies and other scale-ups sufficient attention. Her description of entrepreneurship as a “sideshow” reflects her criticism of government priorities, rather than an independently established assessment of its policies.
Adviser says support for scale-ups must improve
Depledge, who founded property technology business Resi and cleaning marketplace Hassle.com, joined the Treasury as entrepreneurship adviser in June 2025 under then-chancellor Rachel Reeves. Her role was to advise ministers on barriers to growth, investment and opportunities for expanding companies.
She told the newspaper that she had been required to revisit arguments following the change of Chancellor to John Healey in July, and said she had received less direct access to the new Chancellor than to his predecessor.
Depledge has called for greater investment in British growth companies, including more effective use of pension capital, and warned that the UK could miss opportunities arising from artificial intelligence if it does not act quickly.
Departure comes ahead of Budget
Her announcement comes before the Budget scheduled for Wednesday 28 October, as business founders seek clarity on tax incentives and access to investment. Some entrepreneurs have urged the Chancellor to protect Business Asset Disposal Relief, which can reduce capital gains tax on qualifying business disposals.
Depledge has previously been associated with efforts to expand the Enterprise Management Incentives share-option scheme, designed to help qualifying businesses attract and retain employees.
The Chancellor has publicly said he wants to support entrepreneurs and profitable British businesses. Separately, the Government published its response to the Small Business Regulatory Taskforce on 23 October, outlining proposed measures to simplify regulation for smaller companies. These steps form part of the wider policy context but do not directly resolve Depledge’s concerns.
Why she is leaving
Depledge also said she wanted to return to building businesses herself. Her stated reasons should not be reduced solely to a protest resignation. Although she has announced her departure, she remains in the advisory role until the stated leaving date.
The interview raises questions about how the Government balances support for traditional sectors with policies intended to help newer businesses grow. The precise measures in the upcoming Budget remain to be confirmed.
Sources: The Sunday Times: interview with Alex Depledge (24 October 2026); City AM: reporting on Depledge’s departure; Government response to Small Business Regulatory Taskforce (23 October 2026).