Chief Executive at British Retail Consortium, making a difference for retail
It’s a fresh start. As Keir Starmer took keys to Number 10, his party has to hit the ground running on tackling urgent challenges: cost-of-living, growth, housing, crime, education, employment, environment, health…the list goes on. By end October, we expect our new, first-ever female chancellor (👌), Rt Hon Rachel Reeves first budget, setting out the roadmap for economic stability. A roadmap on plans for business tax is expected within six months. We know employment rights and planning policy will be a big focus. As will net zero and decarbonisation. But to deliver, the new government will need to forge a partnership with retail and other industries. Working with our members, we're ready to be a constructive partner, helping leverage the scale and reach of retail to deliver the policy goals that benefit every corner of the country. The machinery of government had become old, tired and fraught with tension between business and politicians. In order to drive real and positive change, and get more retailers investing in communities, in technology, in climate action and in people, any government needs the power of industries such as ours. Nothing can be achieved without shared endeavour and collective buy-in. Through our #BuyIntoRetail campaign, we’ve been highlighting the importance of retail to our economy: the scale of your contribution in every corner of the country; the creator of 3m jobs. This campaign will continue, so get involved by engaging with your new MP to highlight the power of what we call the ‘Everywhere Economy’ in our Manifesto for Retail. We’ve already built strong relationships with many new Labour ministers and they understand the contribution the industry can make. Now it’s about ensuring follow through on commitments made in the manifesto. The Apprenticeship Levy must change, and Labour’s commitment to a flexible Growth and Skills Levy could provide just the answer. A more flexible levy could be instrumental to Labour’s policy for growth. We hope this will appear in the first Labour autumn budget. Rising rates of retail crime and abuse have burdened retail workers for years. We’re pleased Labour has a tough line, and were first to back the industry’s pledge to create a new specific offence for assaulting a retail worker. We hope implementing this is in the King’s Speech on 17 July. We need more details around other manifesto proposals. There’s no doubt business rates are a hard nut to crack, but all of us, Labour included, agree the system is broken. We’ll continue to work with them to ensure any reform is thought through and reduces the burden on retailers. Ultimately, any reforms should incentivise investment and benefit all retail businesses. We also need to understand more about plans for recycling and building a circular economy, and how it will implement some of its employment law proposals. It’s time for that fresh start. We'll build on the relationships we already have. So let’s get down to business!
Absolutely. It's about 'doing' rather than 'promising'. Let's go!!!
Non Executive Director, Advisor and Investor in high growth sustainable brands.
4moHere are 6 ideas / suggestions that could help drive economy in UK, which pays for everything end of the day …..all effective asap Reduce business rates by 25% for next 3 years Bring back duty free for all the lovely tourists that come to this country on all UK made products and services Change VAT to drive sustainability so greener economy moving forward ie recycled goods 5%, sustainable goods 15%, rest 30%, 0% rated goods stays as is ie food, children’s clothing, books etc Bring in training and development plan to support all new / existing apprenticeship etc with 50% cost funded by government (4y) Reduce all business energy costs by -30% for next 3 years Develop business bank to fund more start ups, innovation and scaling potential with easier routes to funds and not tied to houses.