Bira

Bira welcomes additional support for Scottish retailers

Bira has welcomed a move by the Scottish Government to give additional financial support to small retail businesses. Scottish Ministers have announced a second phase of funding – worth £120m – in response to the outbreak of coronavirus, which results in businesses with one property will get a 100% grant.…

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Banks still failing small retail businesses, says Bira

High street lenders are failing to ‘rise to the challenge’ of supporting small retail businesses during the Covid-19 crisis, according to Bira. Andrew Goodacre, Bira’s CEO, said new government figures revealing that only 1.4% of applications for a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme had been successful were “no surprise”. The…

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BIRA fight ‘anomaly’ in government grant funding

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) is highlighting an ‘anomaly’ in government grant funding meaning small independent retailers could be missing out on £15,000 Covid-19 cash. According to real estate advisory firm Altus Group almost 3,700 small shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants could miss out on the money. An early…

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Covid-19: Bira welcomes call for more loan access

A government pledge to pressure banks into supporting small business during the coronavirus pandemic has been welcomed by the Pet Product Retail Association parent company the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA). The business secretary Alok Sharma recently called on high street lenders to ease access of the Coronavirus Business Interruption…

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Banks are failing independent retailers in Covid-19 crisis, says BIRA

High street banks are failing to support small independent retailers in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, a new members’ survey by the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has revealed. Bira asked its members three questions about the support they’ve received following the outbreak of coronavirus – and the results…

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More must be done to support independent retailers through Covid-19 crisis, says BIRA

The British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) has said more must be done to support independent retailers through the coronavirus crisis. BIRA has also launched a dedicated coronavirus hub to guide members and the wider retail community through the crisis. The online resource is a one-stop shop featuring a wealth of…

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Bira welcomes temporary abolition of business rates in Scotland

The Scottish Government’s move to temporarily abolish business rates in a bid to minimise the impact of coronavirus has been welcomed by the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira). Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop MSP has unveiled a new economic package to the Holyrood Parliament in response to coronavirus, including 12 months…

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BIRA welcomes increased support for SMEs amid coronavirus crisis

The British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) has welcomed the Chancellor’s emergency package to help small retail businesses amid the coronavirus crisis. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak delivered his first Budget on Wednesday (11 March) which included a £30bn package to help the UK economy respond to the coronavirus. He…

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Bira issues five point plan to ‘Save Our Shops’

A five-point plan to ‘Save Our Shops’ (SOS) has been issued by Bira, the umbrella group of the Pet Product Retail Association. It’s the key feature of Bira’s forthcoming manifesto which focuses on what can be done to better support independent retail businesses and minimise the burden on them. Bira…

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How safe is your job?

Despite a three percent drop in employment, Pet Gazette discovers that the retail sector is still going strong “The pace of job reductions in the retail industry is gathering steam,” says British Retail Consortium (BRC) chief executive Helen Dickinson OBE. In October, the BRC reported a record reduction in retail…

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