Business Rates

BPF calls for business rates reform

The British Property Federation (BPF) has called on the government to set out a roadmap to annually revalue business rates in a bid to avoid “crippling” high streets, citing that a business rates reform is “long overdue”. It comes as the government’s Business Rates Revaluations Consultation, proposing to introduce more…

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UK economy surges 4.8% in June

The UK economy grew by 4.8% in June as Covid-19 restrictions surrounding retail and leisure were eased across the UK, according to figures published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).  Gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have grown for a fifth consecutive month in June 2021, by 1.0%,…

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Bira in talks with metro mayors to help retailers post-pandemic

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has said it is involved in discussions with mayors of UK metropolitan cities to discuss “new ways” of supporting independent retailers post-pandemic.  The talks, which are being led by the group’s CEO Andrew Goodacre, have been looking at support for reforms to business rates…

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One in seven UK shops still remain vacant, BRC reveals

More than one in seven shops on UK high streets, retail parks and shopping centres are currently vacant, according to the latest data from the Local Data Company and the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The data revealed that fashion stores were amongst the “hardest hit” as customers primarily shifted to online shopping…

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RSM retail head calls for ‘more flexible furlough scheme’

Jacqui Baker, head of retail at RSM, has called for a more “flexible furlough scheme” to allow retailers to “manage peaks and troughs of activity”, as the UK comes out of lockdown.  In her plea, which comes ahead of the government’s coronavirus select committee this afternoon, Baker said that retailers…

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Bira urges Sunak to extend business rates relief for full year

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) is appealing to Chancellor Rishi Sunak to extend the 100% business rates relief in England for a full year. The plea follows a decision by the government in Wales earlier this week to give retailers 100% rates relief until next March. In February, Scotland…

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Pets at Home raises guidance amid strong Q4 trading

Pets at Home has once again raised its profit forecast as the group continues to see strong trading and rising demand in the pet sector.  In light of its trading year-to-date, it now anticipates full-year underlying pre-tax profit, including the previously announced repayment of business rates relief of £28.9m, to…

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Sunak to delay review of business rates until autumn

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to reveal that he will delay a final report on the review of business rates until later this year.  According to The Financial Times, the delay of the report, which was set to consider the introduction of an online sales tax, comes as the chancellor…

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Scottish retailers see business rates relief extended for 12 months

Scottish retail, hospitality, leisure and aviation businesses will pay no rates throughout the next year, under new plans outlined by finance secretary Kate Forbes. The extension is part of £1.1bn consequential funding arising from UK government coronavirus spending. Forbes, who had already announced plans for a three-month extension in her…

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Usdaw calls for ‘level playing field’ between shops and online retailers

Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) has urged the government to create a “level playing field” between high streets and online retail. To support shops, and the communities they serve, the union has suggested the government should implement “fundamental business rates reform”. The organisation revealed that from analysis…

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