Next government must allow retailers to thrive, says BRC

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has launched a manifesto for the coming election, entitled A Vision for the UK Retail Industry.

This sets out how the next government should support the retail sector as it “navigates a transformation driven by new technology and changing consumer behaviour”.

Key priorities as follows: Relieve the business rates burden by scrapping ‘downwards transition’, which takes £1.3 billion from retailers every five years. Money that should be invested in growth, skills and innovation; Reform the Apprenticeship Levy to allow greater flexibility to spend on any form of accredited training; Protect shopworkers by bringing forward legislation to safeguard the 115 retail workers who are attacked every day.

“This offers a path to empowering our shops, our shopworkers and our communities. Political parties should grasp this chance for reform. The general election is a unique opportunity to address many of the imbalances that are adversely affecting retailers. Imbalances that have led to job losses and store closures up and down the country,” says Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive at the BRC.

“Fixing the broken business rates system and reforming the Apprenticeship Levy would help unlock the necessary investment into skills, stores and online necessary to allow retail to thrive.”