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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Jul- 2018 -26 JulyEconomy
Fifth of UK retailers plan to axe jobs in the next three months
New research has found that almost a fifth of UK retailers are planning to cut staff in the next three months. The research by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) found that the number of people employed in the UK retail sector had fallen by nearly 3% in the last three…
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19 JulyHigh Street
‘Phantom hours’ costing UK businesses £37m a week
A survey of shift workers in the retail, hospitality and leisure industries has found staff to be overstating their working hours by an average of almost half an hour a week. Staff rota scheduling firm Rotaready, which conducted the survey, said these ‘phantom hours’ are costing UK businesses as much…
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16 JulyHigh Street
Footfall dips for seventh consecutive month despite World Cup boost
Retail footfall dipped for a seventh consecutive month in June, despite the boost in spending brought on by the World Cup. BRC’s Footfall Springboard and Vacancies Monitor reported that year-on-year footfall for the month dropped by 0.9% The high street was the only area that delivered footfall growth, albeit marginally,…
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9 JulyEconomy
200,000 companies sued over business rates
Over 200,000 businesses were taken to a Magistrates court for failing to pay for businesses rates under the first year of the new business rates revaluation, an investigation has revealed. Real estate advisor Altus Group collated information procured under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) from all councils in England. They were…
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6 JulyEconomy
UK Treasury rejects retailers’ business rates reform calls
The UK Treasury has today rejected calls from retailers who say business rates should be reformed to create a level playing field with online retailers. During a meeting of parliament’s Treasury Select Committee, chancellor Philip Hammond said reforming international corporation tax was a higher priority for the government, adding that…
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6 JulyEconomy
Retail sales fall for fifth consecutive month
Retail sales fell for the fifth month in a row in June, data from BDO’s High Street Sales Tracker has shown. Total in-store like-for-like sales were down 1.7% compared with last year, when the figures rose 1.3%. It is also the ninth consecutive month that sales growth figures have failed…
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4 JulyEconomy
BRC calls for two-year freeze on business rates
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has asked the government to consider freezing business rates for two years to ease the pressure on retailers. By proposing a two-year freeze on increases, the BRC said it would give time for the government and industry to develop a proposal for an updated taxation…
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Jun- 2018 -29 JuneAdvice
Could ‘good cost, bad cost’ rescue the UK high street?
A series of high-profile CVAs and administrations in recent months are a powerful reminder of the tough conditions currently facing the UK high street. The fall in the value of the pound post-Brexit, combined with squeezed consumer spending and recent hikes in business rates have brought many retailers to breaking…
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27 JuneHigh Street
City centres ‘must break reliance’ on retail, says think tank
Too many city centres across England and Wales are over-dependent on retail, and must swap shops for offices, housing and public spaces, according to a new report. Research published by the think tank Centre for Cities with support from Capita, examined for the composition of commercial space in UK cities…
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22 JuneHigh Street
Colliers proposes new property leasing approach to target UK retail troubles
A “radical approach” to property leasing is being proposed to help shopping environments throughout the UK by property consultants Colliers International . The five-point plan is aimed at helping retailers access viable trading space while enabling retailers, landlords and investors to find occupiers for the rising amount of empty shops…
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