Bira held it's annual AGM, a record turnout since introducing digital AGMs. It has also been a week of reaction to the Budget and a brilliant success story in Health & Remedy, who claimed the Love Your High Street Award this year.

Read the latest update from Andrew Goodacre, CEO

 

Hello,

There have been a number of areas of focus for Bira recently:

1.  AGM - Thanks to all those who attended the AGM last week – a record turnout since we have been doing virtual AGMs. We also welcomed a new President. John Jones stepped down after a couple of years and he has been succeeded by Karen Forret. Karen has been board member for a few years and runs the Wilkies shop chain in Scotland.

2.  Budget - For the first time in 3 years we had a budget that did not damage smaller retailers overall. On the positive side we saw the Small Business Rates Relief increased to £18,000 rateable value (meaning zero business rates paid up to this level 0).

Anyone with a higher rateable value will increases capped by inflation for the next two years (there was a planned 25% increase next year). Both of these announcements were in our budget wish list sent to the Chancellors and are ‘wins’ for our lobbying work.

Employment costs are rising by 3,9% due to increases in the NLW and NMW. It is less than inflation – very different from the past 3 years, and again something we pushed for.

Our main disappointments are zero action on energy cost for business and reducing the burden of NICs – focus needed on those next year!

3.  Love Your High Street - I hade the pleasure of presenting the award to the overall winner last week – Health and Remedy in Chard. A great business with two owners who really understand their market and have made a real difference to their high street.

I loved the fact that they help other retailers to develop their social media skills. Very deserving winners from another great campaign that highlights the best of high streets in the UK.

 


Thank you.

Andrew

Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre
 

Bira's advocacy takes your voice to the heart of Parliament

Bira is at the forefront of championing the cause of independent traders and shopkeepers across Britain.

Our campaigns cover a wide spectrum of issues crucial to the success of independent traders including:

  • Combatting the rising tide of retail crime
  • Advocating for changes in legislation that promote fairness and flexibility
  • Fighting for fairer business rates
  • Overall reducing the regulatory burden
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We’re talking to a cross section of our members from across the UK, from single retail outlets to small chains, and from large department stores to leisure and hospitality.

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