Business Rates

The minimum wage increase is about to hit – and it beggars belief

As if to bang the final nail into the coffin himself, we can only assume the Treasury’s top man, chancellor Rishi Sunak, refuses to give ground on the next wave to crash over the retail and hospitality industries. I am talking of course about the increase in the National Minimum…

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BVA calls on government to support veterinary practices

The BVA has written to the government asking them to include veterinary practices in their support of businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The plea follows Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiling of a £350bn package of measures, including rates relief and grants to support retail and hospitality businesses affected by the…

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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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BVA issues updated Covid-19 guidance for vets

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has issued new guidance for the veterinary profession amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The association said that every practice should now be carrying out individual risk assessments, and consider whether it is “appropriate” to continue with routine consultations. According to new guidelines, practices should also practice…

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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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ROUNDUP: Business rates holiday announced by chancellor Sunak

In his maiden budget, the new chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has announced a £30bn fiscal stimulus package to help combat the impact of coronavirus on the British economy including a one-year total suspension of business rates for small retail, leisure and hospitality businesses. Headline measures include: A £12bn plan to provide…

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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…

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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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Who would have thought skinny jeans could be anyone’s undoing?

It’s not often that the business pages give you a good belly laugh. But today we have the spectacle of Marks & Spencer blaming its poor Christmas trading results partly on an oversupply of skinny jeans for men. Apparently customer surveys revealed that the high street bellwether’s ranges were “too old” the…

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Finally, a government addressing the business rates fiasco

Regardless of your political colours, small businesses up and down the land will be pleased to hear of at least one policy which looks set to survive the transition from manifesto wish lists to actual policy and legislation, and that is a business rates overhaul. The prime minister, Boris Johnson, yesterday…

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