British Independent Retailers Association
This coverage examines the British Independent Retailers Association’s (Bira) role in supporting and advocating for independent retailers across the UK. Reporting focuses on Bira’s policy interventions on issues such as business rates, employment law, and retail crime; its collective legal actions, including the £1bn damages claim against Amazon; and its provision of business services like legal advice, insurance, and supplier partnerships. Insights are tailored for retail executives, policy stakeholders, and professionals navigating the challenges and opportunities within the independent retail sector.
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Sep- 2021 -17 SeptemberHigh Street
BIRA calls on gov to appeal card payment fees
British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) has added its voice to a group of trade bodies appealing for parliament to intervene and protect British businesses and consumers from the cost of anti-competitive practices in card payments. The association has joined the British Retail Consortium (BRC), Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), Federation…
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7 SeptemberHigh Street
Drive for net zero could harm high street accessibility, says Bira
The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has raised concerns over the impacts that local councils’ drive to achieve net zero could have on independent retailers. The industry body claimed that despite being “committed” to supporting its members in acting sustainable, it is “concerned” that schemes introduced by local authorities could…
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Jul- 2021 -26 JulyCoronavirus Featured Content
Bira backs ‘Shop Out to Help Out’ scheme
The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has said it will back a new campaign launched by Refundable, a consumer membership brand, to introduce a ‘Shop Out to Help Out’ scheme. According to the group, the campaign, similar to the Eat Out to Help Out scheme launched last summer for the…
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7 JulyGovernment
Bira urges gov to support indie retailers closed by self-isolation
The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has urged the Government to issue more support for indie retailers that are forced to close if staff are self-isolating. The calls follow the prime minister’s announcement that most Covid-19 restrictions will be lifted on 19 July. However, self-isolation will remain until 16 August,…
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Jun- 2021 -25 JuneEconomy
Long-term WFH may damage ‘perfectly good’ retailers, says BIRA CEO
A permanent working from home post-lockdown model could damage “perfectly good” businesses, according to the British Independent Retailers Association’s (BIRA) CEO. In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Andrew Goodacre addressed how businesses in London would specifically be adversely affected by such a change. Goodacre’s intervention comes after research from…
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21 JuneHigh Street
BPF slams gov’s commercial property rent moratorium extension
The British Property Federation (BPF) has come out against the government’s latest commercial property rent moratorium extension. Last week (16 June), the UK government announced a further extension of moratoriums on commercial property owners’ rights until March 2022. Legislation is set to be introduced later this session in parliament in…
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18 JuneGovernment
Bira takes credit for rent moratorium extension
The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has taken credit for the recently announced rent moratorium extension. Revealed on 16 June, the extension will keep existing measures in place to protect commercial tenants from eviction until 25 March 2022. The trade body claimed that the Government’s decision followed extensive lobbying from…
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11 JuneGovernment
Bira calls for extension of Gov’s TCR scheme
The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) is calling for an extension in the government’s Trade Credit Reinsurance (TCR) scheme. CEO of Bira, Andrew Goodacre said the removal of the scheme as planned on June 30, 2021, could “not come at a worse time for independent retailers”. In May, the government…
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May- 2021 -13 MayGovernment
Bira expresses late Restart Grant concerns
The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has voiced its disappointment at delays in the government’s Restart Grant distribution. Retailers had been offered one-off grants of between £2,667 and £6,000 in March’s budget announcement in an effort to support the recovery of non-essential businesses. However, Bira claimed that many of its…
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Mar- 2021 -12 MarchFeatures
A look at what an online sales tax means for businesses
In last year’s Business Rates Review: Call for Evidence, Jesse Norman MP, financial secretary to the Treasury, said the government would explore the potential options of “alternative” property and online taxes which could act as “possible replacements” for rates to tackle the increases in businesses online presence. The proposition would…
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