The government is reportedly examining how the ‘the tax system raises sufficient revenue’ to cover the cost of lost business rates, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to bankrupt many high street businesses. The Times newspaper reported on Monday that, following last week’s Treasury consultation paper on business rates, Chancellor Sunak is considering a 2% levy […]
The Office of National Statistics (ONS) retail sales figures for June showed sales soared by over 13% compared to May, to reach near-normal levels. In fact, with fuel sales excluded, they actually beat June 2019’s figures by 1.5%. However, the home delivery expert ParcelHero is warning stores that the devil is in the detail, and […]
The latest ONS retail figures show growth for the first time since lockdown began at 13.9%. Yet this presents a fraction of what is required to make sufficient inroads into the debt that retail businesses have built up during lockdown says RSM. Despite continuing record spending on food sales, total retail sales in the quarter […]
The results of the first fortnightly GM Recovery Tracker survey conducted by Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce show a slight improvement in customer demand as the relaxation of lockdown measures continues. After a historic collapse in demand during lockdown, the survey reveals an improvement in sales but 43% of the respondents fear their revenues may […]
A specialist membership and insurance company for the health and beauty sectors has been able to secure all the jobs of its 14 staff during the coronavirus shutdown, after securing a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan (CBIL) from Lloyds Bank. Warwickshire-headquartered Associated Beauty Therapists (“ABT”) is the UK and Ireland’s largest beauty and insurance membership provider. […]
Responding to the UK government’s consultation on its legislative proposals on the UK Internal Market, published today, BRC’s head of devolved nations, David Lonsdale, said: “We look forward to examining the legislative proposals in detail and to responding to the consultation in due course. “The UK’s departure from the EU is seeing new powers repatriated […]
Covering the four weeks 31st May – 4 July 2020 On a total basis, sales increased by 3.4% in June, against a decrease of 1.6% in June 2019*. It is the highest since May 2018**. Also, It is the first growth registered since the lockdown and above the 3-month average decline of 6.4% and the […]
Responding to reports that face coverings will become mandatory in shops in England from 24 July, Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “Retailers have made the safety of staff and customers their top priority and we support measures aimed at protecting the health of the public. “While retailers will play their […]
Reach Commercial Finance has help realise a dream for an artisan butcher from Fordingbridge in Hampshire by securing a £150K loan under the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) scheme. The funding for Fordingbridge Farm Foods Limited, which was sourced at a time when banks were being highly cautious about lending to the retail sector, means that […]
Covering the five weeks 31 May – 4 July 2020 Shops in Northern Ireland opened on 12th June, and in England on 15th June. As a result, we have provided details of the split between the first two weeks (pre-lockdown) and remaining three weeks (post-lockdown). According to BRC-ShopperTrak data: UK footfall decreased by 62.6% in […]
