Budget

This coverage examines the UK Government’s Budget announcements and their impact on the petcare industry, focusing on measures that affect retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and supply chain operators. Pet Gazette reports on changes to taxation, business rates, funding schemes, and economic forecasts, alongside analysis of how these policies influence operational costs, investment decisions, and consumer spending. Our coverage helps pet trade professionals understand the financial and regulatory environment to plan effectively for the year ahead.

Jan- 2021 -

5 January

Government & Legislation

Chancellor unveils £4.6bn in new lockdown grants

Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors are to receive a one-off grant worth up to £9,000, the chancellor has announced. The news comes after the prime minister’s announcement that businesses will be closed until at least February half-term in order to help control the spread of Covid-19. This…
Read More »
Dec- 2020 -

17 December

Coronavirus

Furlough scheme extended until April 2021

The furlough scheme has been extended until the end of April 2021 with the government continuing to contribute 80% towards wages to employee’s pay, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has confirmed today (17 December). The government will also extend current government-guaranteed Covid-19 business loan schemes until the end of March. This includes…
Read More »
Sep- 2020 -

24 September

Coronavirus

Chancellor set to unveil furlough replacement after Budget cancellation

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has cancelled this year’s Budget but is set to unveil new measures aimed at protecting employment and the UK economy in parliament later today (24 September). It is thought the new measures will replace the current furlough scheme, which is set to expire at the end of…
Read More »
Jun- 2020 -

22 June

Industry News

Chancellor mulls VAT cut and could follow up with autumn tax rises

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reportedly considering cutting VAT in order to help stimulate the economy but could follow the move up with a set of Autumn tax rises. According to the Financial Times, Sunak is planning deferred tax rises and cuts to public spending in his autumn Budget as a follow up to further stimulus…
Read More »
May- 2020 -

12 May

Coronavirus

Chancellor extends furlough scheme until October

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has extended the Government’s furlough scheme until the end of October. Announcing the decision in the house of commons today (12 May) Sunak revealed that “no changes whatsoever” will be made to the current scheme until the end of July. However he noted that…
Read More »
Apr- 2020 -

16 April

Economy

Government extends lockdown for ‘at least’ three more weeks

The government has announced an extension to the coronavirus lockdown for “at least” a further three weeks. The decision was announced at today’s (16 April) press briefing which was led by foreign secretary Dominic Raab. It also comes after Raab led an emergency Cobra committee and cabinet meetings about the…
Read More »
3 April

Economy

Chancellor unveils new measures to SME loan scheme

Chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak has unveiled a major overhaul to his previously announced SME loan scheme. Initially, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) was aimed at businesses unable to secure regular commercial financing as the virus took its toll on the UK’s economy. However, according to Sky…
Read More »
2 April

Economy

Chancellor set to announce overhaul to SME loan scheme

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reportedly set to announce an overhaul to the SME loan scheme that will allow companies to access help quicker. According to Sky News, Sunak and members of the Treasury were reportedly in talks with major lenders, including Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of…
Read More »
Mar- 2020 -

13 March

Business

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…
Read More »
10 March

Business

Calls for ‘discretionary business rates relief’ amid Coronavirus outbreak

Colliers International has called on the UK Government to consider and to fund a system of “discretionary rate relief” for businesses impacted by the Coronavirus. The commercial real estate company said this is one of the measures that could “alleviate business pain” in this week’s Budget. It added that against…
Read More »