Business Rates
This coverage examines business rates policy and its implications for the UK retail sector. Reporting focuses on government decisions, reforms, rate relief measures, and their impact on store operations, profitability, and investment decisions. Tailored for retail executives and managers, it provides analysis to help navigate costs, advocate for change, and plan effectively in response to fiscal pressures.
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Jun- 2022 -27 JuneGovernment
Asda joins retailers in rejecting online sales tax
Asda has reportedly told the government that introducing an online sales tax (OST) will harm retailers and shoppers that are already affected with rising inflation, according to The Daily Express. The supermarket chain was one of a number of retail groups to meet with Lucy Frazer, the financial secretary to…
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May- 2022 -30 MayOnline & Digital
Asos and Curry’s among retailers to warn Sunak against OST
A group of 11 retailers, including Asos, Currys, and Gymshark, have reportedly urged the government to abandon plans for an online sales tax warning that it would “hurt, not help the high street”. According to The Telegraph, in a joint-letter to the chancellor the retailers noted that sales tax would…
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19 MayHigh Street
M&S warns chancellor of potential ‘damage’ of online sales tax
Marks and Spencer has penned a letter to the chancellor warning of the potential damage an online sales tax would have on the high street. It comes as the government’s consultation on whether to implement such a tax closes on Friday (20 May). The government said the idea behind the…
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16 MayClothing & Shoes
Next faces investor backlash over CEO bonus
Next plc is facing a potential backlash from the Institutional Voting Information Service (IVIS) as the retailer’s chief executive, Simon Wolfson, has received the highest pay since 2015, while benefiting from government support. According to the Guardian, the Institutional Voting Information Service (IVIS), which is part of the Investment Association…
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16 MayHigh Street
Walgreens snaps up £4bn dividend from UK arm
Walgreens Boots Alliance has reportedly extracted more than $5.3bn (£4.3bn) of dividends from its UK holding companies. According to The Sunday Times, the Boots owner snapped up the dividends despite taking “hundreds of millions” of pounds of government support during the pandemic. Boots’ UK-based parent company, Superior Holdings, paid out…
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4 MayHigh Street
Retail Jobs Alliance demands business rates reform
An alliance of retail companies including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Greggs and Waterstones are forging a new coalition to urge Rishi Sunak to move ahead with reforms to Britain’s decades-old business rates regime, according to Sky News. The group, which is calling itself the Retail Jobs Alliance, has written to the chancellor…
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Apr- 2022 -29 AprilPeople Moves
New West End Company CEO to step down
New West End Company CEO Jace Tyrrell is set to step down from his role this October, after six years at the head of the group, as he returns to his native Australia to lead its first Business Improvement District – The New Sydney Waterfront Company. According to the group,…
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20 AprilNews
Retailers indicate ‘overwhelming support’ for online sales tax
Retailers have given “overwhelming support” to the introduction of a form of online sales tax to take the pressure off business rates, according to a recent snap survey by Colliers. It revealed 89% of respondents were in favour of the new tax with only 11% in disagreement. The survey was…
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Mar- 2022 -24 MarchHigh Street
High streets face £3bn rates rise on 1 April
Retail, leisure and hospitality businesses in England are facing a “dangerous cost of doing business crisis”, according to real estate adviser Altus Group, as the government presses ahead with its £3.1bn business rates rise on 1 April. Analysis by Altus Group, following yesterday’s (23 March) Spring Statement, shows councils in…
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23 MarchEconomy
Spring Statement: Chancellor raises NI threshold to £12,570
The chancellor has outlined a series of measures to help combat the rising cost of living in his latest spring statement, including increasing the national insurance threshold by £3,000. Speaking in parliament today (23 March), Rishi Sunak began his speech by warning it is yet unclear what the impact of…
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