Healey’s startup adviser quits ahead of Budget over ‘sideshow’ treatment of entrepreneurs

The Treasury’s entrepreneurship adviser is stepping down after accusing ministers of treating Britain’s fastest-growing companies as a sideshow while directing taxpayer money towards traditional industries. Alex Depledge, appointed by former chancellor Rachel Reeves in June 2025, will leave the role on Thursday, a day after John Healey delivers his first Budget. Keeping scale-ups on the fringes underestimates the contribution of our greatest companies, and we need to support and develop them on British shores at all costs , she told The Sunday Times. We treat them as a bit of a sideshow . Depledge, who founded property technology firm Resi and cleaning marketplace Hassle.com, argued that ministers were overlooking high-growth businesses in favour of established industries. Where’s the real economy? They think it’s over here with steel, cars and hard hats, that this is the main event' , she said. And my argument has always been: no, scale-ups are the main event .