Red tape and taxes could cost businesses in the UK £25bn over the next four years, according to data released by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

The BCC has warned that job creation will suffer because of a blizzard of new red tape and taxes due to be implemented by 2014.

Eight major employment-related changes are to taker place next year, including the rising of employee national insurance contributions by 1% from April next year, the Equality Bill and the Agency Workers Directive.

"The cost of employing people must be reduced if future governments are serious about giving businesses the freedom to create jobs and drive our economic recovery," said David Frost, director general of the BCC.