Bira is calling for action on business rates and employment costs as independent retailers seek clearer evidence that the government’s growth strategy will reduce the cost of running shops.
The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has urged the government to take further action on business rates in the upcoming Budget, arguing that its growth ambitions must translate into lower operating costs for independent retailers.
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The intervention follows Chancellor John Healey’s growth speech on 7 September, in which he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reducing the burden of business regulation by 25% by the end of the current Parliament. Healey also said the Budget would set out a roadmap for greater business rates retention by local councils and strategic authorities as part of a wider programme of fiscal devolution.
Bira welcomed the emphasis on growth but said independent retailers now need measures that deliver tangible savings for businesses on the high street.
Andrew Goodacre, chief executive of Bira, said: “...