Government
The latest news, updates and analysis on the government and what it is doing that affects the UK retail industry. Sign up to the Daily Briefing and let Retail Sector’s business journalists keep you in the picture.
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Feb- 2020 -10 February
HMRC yields £16 from small businesses for every £1 spent on staff
HMRC’s investigations into individuals and small businesses produced a yield of approximately £16 for every £1 spent on staff last year, according to research by international law firm Pinsent Masons. The firm said the “huge” return on investment in staff outweighs returns seen by other private sector businesses. Whilst HMRC’s…
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Nov- 2019 -12 November
Government must ‘play its part’ to support retail sector, says BRC
The incoming government must take action to fully support to the retail sector, the BRC has urged in its latest manifesto. The publication, entitled ‘A Vision for the UK Retail Industry’, calls for relief and reform of the industry as it navigates changes driven by new technology and changing consumer…
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Sep- 2019 -2 September
Retail business rates could rise by £169m over the next 12 months
Retailers could see a £169m increase in business rates next year, prompting renewed calls for the government to overhaul the system. Calculations by real estate advisors Altus Group found gross business rates bills (including non-retail) for the financial year 2020/21 would increase by £662.15m in England, if the headline rate…
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Aug- 2019 -9 August
Gove orders HMRC to support SMEs in the event of no-deal
Ministers including Michael Gove have ordered HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to support “cash-strapped” small business in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Representatives from 19 of the UK’s largest business federations met with ministers at No 10 yesterday (8 August) to discuss how to accelerate “business preparedness” for leaving…
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Jun- 2019 -24 June
Pensions Regulator boss to face questions over Arcadia deal
The Pension Regulator (TPR) boss, Charles Counsell is set to appear in front of the Work and Pensions Committee, regarding the settlement with Arcadia boss Philip Green last month. The agreement, saw Green pledge an extra £25m per year to its company pension fund for three years, while in return…
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18 June
Gov rejects MPs’ sustainable fashion recommendations
The government has rejected all the recommendations made by the Environmental Audit Committee (ECA) in February with the aim to “end the era of throwaway fashion”. The MPs published its report called Fixing Fashion Report: Clothing Consumption and Sustainability following the end of its sustainability of the fashion industry inquiry.…
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13 June
Businesses rates to better reflect property value under new law
Business rates payers in England will have bills that more accurately reflect current property values under new legislation introduced by ministers yesterday (12 June 2019). Property revaluations will increase to every three years, from the current five years, and the next revaluation will be brought forward a year from 2022…
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7 June
London Mayor to launch Night Time Enterprise zone
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced a new programme to boost the capital’s high streets at night. The pilot zone will be an opportunity for a borough to trial a range of approaches for the high street, such as running night-time markets, testing longer opening hours, or…
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6 June
TfL holds competition for £100k retail space for a year
Transport for London (TfL) has launched a new innovation competition, which challenges businesses to come up with an “innovative and technological concept” that will reimagine the use of physical space in retail and deliver a unique experience for customers who travel using the transport network. The competition offers the winner…
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Mar- 2019 -21 March
Retailers left waiting for rates discounts as deadline approaches
Businesses in England were promised millions of pounds in support by the chancellor last October but, less than two weeks before the start of the new tax year on 1 April, many are still either waiting for discounts worth up to £8,000 or haven’t yet applied. The government announced a…
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