Business Rates
Business rates are a major operational cost for UK jewellers, impacting independent retailers, chains, and workshop owners alike. With ongoing debates around reform and relief schemes, staying informed on changes to business rates policy is crucial for managing overheads and protecting margins in a challenging retail environment.
Jewellery Focus covers the latest news and analysis on business rates, including government updates, industry reactions, and insights into how changes affect jewellery retailers, manufacturers, and suppliers. Our reporting supports trade professionals in navigating this complex area to safeguard their businesses.
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Jul- 2020 -7 JulyEconomy
Usdaw urges chancellor to announce retail recovery plan
Retail trade union Usdaw is calling on the chancellor to announce in Wednesday’s (8 June) economic statement an “urgent recovery plan” for the “struggling retail industry”, which is developed with trade unions and retail employers. Some of the factors, Usdaw is urging the government to cover fundamental business rates, an…
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2 JulyCoronavirus
High street retailers ‘urgently’ need government recovery plan, says Usdaw
Shopworkers union Usdaw has urged the government to agree with employers and trade unions a recovery plan for the high street as “thousands of further job losses are announced”. The union said the scale of job losses across the retail industry is “accelerating” as the high street continues to struggle…
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Jun- 2020 -5 JuneRetailers
Bira welcomes business rates revaluation postponement in Wales
The British Retailers Association (Bira) has welcomed the decision by the Welsh government to delay the revaluation of business rates. The announcement follows a similar ruling made in England on 6 May, which resulted in the government scrapping a bill to reevaluate business rates in 2021. The decision to postpone…
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May- 2020 -11 MayRetailers
Trouble ahead for retail vacancy rates, warns BRC
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Local Data Company has said the new BRC-LDC Vacancy Monitor has revealed that the rate of store vacancies increased to 12.2% in March. The monitor also reported a 0.3% decrease in vacancy rates in shopping centres to 14.1% compared with 14.4%. The South West and Wales…
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6 MayCoronavirus
Business rates revaluation postponed until 2022
A revaluation of business rates will no longer take place in 2021 in line with the government’s latest efforts to “reduce uncertainty” for firms affected by the ongoing pandemic. Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP confirmed that legislation has now been introduced to bring the next revaluation forward by…
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1 MayCoronavirus
Revaluation of business rates postponed following pressure from Bira
A government plan to bring forward the next revaluation of business rates to April 1, 2021, has been shelved following pressure from the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira). Bira joined other heads of the retail sector in demanding that Chancellor Rishi Sunak withdraw ‘disastrous’ legislation, which was due to be…
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Apr- 2020 -30 AprilCoronavirus
‘Lack of urgency’ in handing out Covid-19 grants to SMEs, says Colliers
Colliers International said it is concerned about the “lack of urgency” many local authorities are showing in paying out “much needed” grants to businesses. Colliers said that according to the latest data published by the Government, five weeks after the grants were announced 38% of the amount allocated to local…
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29 AprilCoronavirus
Bira calls on chancellor to bin rates reform Bill
The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) is urging the government to scrap plans to bring forward the next revaluation of business rates to April 1, 2021. Bira has joined other heads of the retail sector in calling Chancellor Rishi Sunak to withdraw ‘disastrous’ legislation, due to be discussed today (Wednesday,…
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Mar- 2020 -30 MarchEditor's Blog
The minimum wage increase is about to hit – and it beggars belief
As if to bang the final nail into the coffin himself, we can only assume the Treasury’s top man, chancellor Rishi Sunak, refuses to give ground on the next wave to crash over the retail and hospitality industries. I am talking of course about the increase in the National Minimum…
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17 MarchEconomy
NAJ asks for ‘urgent action’ amid Covid-19 crisis
The UK jewellery industry has urged the government to take “urgent action” as the coronavirus crisis unfolds. The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) has today sent an open letter to PM Boris Johnson calling for “further clarity and support” on key issues that may affect the industry amid the outbreak. …
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