UK retailers call on new PM Andy Burnham to back manifesto for jobs, growth and affordability
The British Retail Consortium today launched its Buy into Retail Manifesto, asking Andy Burnham, who will shortly take over from Keir Starmer as UK Prime Minister, to work with retailers and back reforms to employment costs, business rates, energy, and regulation needed to support an incoming government’s ambition for jobs, growth and a thriving high street.
This calls on government to:
1. Cut the cost of employing young people to create more jobs
2. Deliver employment rights and skills reforms that keep people in work and training
3. Launch a government-retail taskforce to expand routes for young people into employment
4. Get a grip on retail crime - with zero tolerance
5. Fix business rates to unlock investment in high streets and support local jobs
6. Make electricity costs competitive for retailers so consumers don’t pay the price
7. Support investment in retail sites everywhere
8. Keep goods moving freely across borders and ensure fair competition
9. Strip back overlapping regulation that adds to prices
10. Join up government decisions so new costs and rules don’t land at once
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive at the British Retail Consortium, says: "Retail is where the economy shows up in everyday life. It is where millions of people earn a living. Retail is part of the everyday economy, touching every community across the UK. When retail thrives, more people are in work, investment flows into local communities, and fierce competition drives prices down for families. But cumulative costs and fragmented policy decisions are holding the industry back. Retailers have absorbed £6.5 billion in additional employment costs since 2024, as well as billions more in new packaging taxes, business rates, and rising electricity costs. The consequences are clear: fewer jobs, less investment and higher prices for consumers.”
"Andy Burnham has made collaborating with business to drive growth, high streets, and living standards central to his ambition. Retail is a key partner to deliver it: with the right policies, retail can drive investment, support jobs in every postcode, and keep household essentials affordable. Our manifesto offers a path for Mr Burnham to support the millions of people that rely on retail every day."
2026 RTIH Innovation Awards
UK retail will be a key focus area at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.
The awards are now open for entries and celebrate global retail technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
Our winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.
Check out our 2025 winners here.
Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”
“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”
He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”
Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.
