Retail groups call for business rates reform to save Britain’s high streets April 17, 2023 Retail and hospitality groups have called for urgent reform of business rates, which are contributing to shop closures and job losses. “Retail accounts for 5 per cent of the economy but pays more than one-fifth of business rates,” Helen Dickinson, British Retail Consortium (BRC) chief executive, said. “The overall industry tax take is unsustainably high [...]
Airports and power stations to be hit hardest by business rates changes March 27, 2023 Airports, power stations and business headquarters are set to be hit hardest by property tax changes when new valuations come into force next week, according to research. Revenues from business rates – the property tax on commercial buildings – are expected to rise by £1.4 billion, or 4.9 per cent , to £29.9 billion when [...]
Firms face £300m paperwork bill in proposal to help save cash through business rates March 27, 2023 Businesses across England could be saddled with bills for around £150 a year under new Government proposals intended to help them with their tax. A requirement for businesses to update the Government annually could cost a total of around £300 million a year, analysis by Gerald Eve, a real-estate advisory company, has found. The estimate [...]
Business charm offensive: Reeves discusses investment plans at meeting with Lloyds, Aviva, L&G and British Land March 14, 2023 Labour’s business charm offensive is continuing as shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to discuss plans to boost investment. Keir Starmer’s Labour has positioned itself as the ‘party of business’ as it aims to exploit the Conservatives’ reputational hit following the economic chaos of Liz Truss’s calamitous mini-budget. Reeves will discuss plans to boost business [...]
Confidence in UK businesses to improve in 2023 December 31, 2022 Confidence in prospects for UK’s economy are set to improve in 2023, according to an IoD index. The Institute of Directors (IoD) Directors’ Economic Confidence Index measures business leader optimism in prospects for the UK economy. It rose to -58 in December, up from -64 in November with improvements in expectations for revenue, employment, investment [...]
Business rates: Thousands of businesses go bust whilst waiting for rebates July 25, 2022 Thousands of business sites have foundered in while waiting for rebates over property taxes, according to new data. Research by real estate advisory firm Altus Group has showed that 3,165 business premises, including offices, factories, shops, pubs and restaurants, entered insolvency whilst they were awaiting the result of a business rates challenge. Business rates are [...]
Theo Paphitis: Dragons’ Den star says the high street is going nowhere and neither is he June 14, 2022 Theo Paphitis is not in any hurry to hang up his boots. After decades running the show at companies from lingerie to stationery firms, one might be mistaken for thinking the Dragons’ Den star, retail titan and former Millwall chairman may be mulling a change of pace. However, Paphitis tells City A.M. he has “a [...]
UK registers record of new businesses following “the great resignation” January 17, 2022 The UK has registered a record high of new businesses following the Covid-induced “great resignation.” According to data from accountancy firm Hazlewoods, in the last 12 months 319,000 news businesses were created, most of them e-retailers or delivery firms. The number of retailers in Britain has jumped 15 per cent, from 295,000 to 339,000 while [...]
Dunelm criticised for ‘excessive’ £4m pay package for chief exec November 10, 2021 Home furnishings retailer Dunelm is under pressure over a £4m pay package for its chief exec amid accusations that the deal is “excessive”.
Bank of England will ‘have to act’ to curb inflation October 17, 2021 Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has signaled that the Bank of England is gearing up to increase interest rates. The central bank is considering raising interest rates for the first time since the onset of the coronavirus crisis due to increasing inflation risks. He believes the surge in energy prices raises the risk of [...]