Helen Dickinson
This coverage follows Helen Dickinson’s leadership and contributions to the UK retail industry. Reporting includes her public statements, policy advocacy, industry insights, and role in shaping retail strategies and government relations. Designed for senior retail professionals and decision-makers, it offers context on her influence over regulatory developments, sector challenges, and opportunities affecting retail operations and management.
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Mar- 2021 -24 MarchCoronavirus Featured Content
Gov urged to avoid fourth lockdown as Covid claims 67,000 retail jobs
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has called on the government to take “all necessary precautions” to prevent another lockdown after 67,000 retail jobs have been lost in the past year due to Covid-19. The plea comes in response to the latest ONS job figures, which also show that employment levels…
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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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12 MarchHigh Street
Government announces eviction ban extension
The ministry of housing, communities, and local government has announced an extension to the ban of commercial evictions until 30 June. Introduced by Robert Jenrick, housing secretary, the measure is intended to ensure businesses are supported upon reopening. Alongside the commercial support package is a six-month notice period and bailiff…
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9 MarchHigh Street
UK retail sales up 9.5% in February, says BRC-KPMG
Like-for-like UK retail sales increased 9.5% last month against February 2020, according to the latest BRC-KPMG retail sales monitor, which covered the four weeks between 31 January – 27 February 2021. The data revealed that over the three months to February, in-store sales of non-food items declined 38.9% on a…
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8 MarchHigh Street
February footfall falls by 73.5%
UK retail footfall for February reportedly fell 73.5% year-on-year, the second largest decline seen since May 2020. According to the British Retail Consortium, the drop represented a 3.4% improvement from January’s levels. The data stems from the latest ShopperTrak analysis, which has joined Sensormatic Solutions in turn changing the footfall…
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3 MarchEconomy
Shop prices continue to fall in February
Shop prices continued to fall in February, down 2.4%, marking the lowest deflation rate since May 2020. According to the latest figures from the BRC-Nielsen Shop price Index, the decline was below the 2.2% experienced in January and is also below the 12- and six-month average price decreases of 1.7%…
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Feb- 2021 -23 FebruaryGovernment
Gov should ‘remain flexible’ when lifting retail ban, says BRC
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has said the government should “remain flexible” and allow non-essential retailers to reopen as soon as the data suggests it is safe to do so. The statement comes in response to Boris Johnson’s roadmap’ out of lockdown, where the PM said it is possible that…
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11 FebruaryEconomy
Non-food retailers see £22bn sales hit due to Covid
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is reporting that the country’s three national lockdowns have cost ‘non-food’ stores – mainly ‘non-essential’ retail – an estimated £22bn in lost sales. The trade association said stricter restrictions in the crucial run-up to Christmas hampered retailers’ ability to generate much-needed turnover, which would have…
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9 FebruaryCoronavirus Featured Content
January retail sales slump to lowest level since May 2020
January saw retail sales growth decline to its lowest level since May of last year, figures by the BRC and KPMG show. According to the pair’s sales monitor, total retail sales dropped by 1.3% in January compared to 0.4% in January 2020 as national lockdown measures continue to disrupt trading. …
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1 FebruaryCoronavirus Featured Content
BRC chief calls for rates extension as vacancies rise by 13%
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has urged the government to extend business rates relief beyond April as the number of retail stores lying vacant rose to 13.7% in Q4 2020. The plea follows figures published by the consortium which show that all retail locations saw…
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