INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT

• Brexit: Secured automatic provision of EORI numbers for 150k exporters, greater guidance on exporting meat and products of animal origin, and Food Standards Agency approval on “Great Britain” health mark for meat when selling in the UK and abroad.
• Crime: Ensured violence against retail workers included in Offensive Weapons Bill. Secured Home Office Call for Evidence from retailers, removal of ban on delivery of bladed products to residential addresses, potential for Primary Authority involvement to avoid local inconsistency, and development of additional Guidance. Gained commitment for continued funding for the Met's specialist business crime unit; and for National Economic Crime Centre to include fraud as a priority.
• Business rates: Consistently called for long-term reform with immediate action on multiplier rate, incentivising investment, improving the Valuation Office Agency and system of transitional relief. Submitted evidence to Treasury Select Committee Inquiry and House of Commons Select Committee - Select Committee report aligned with our Asks, was decisive in need to fix broken system and reduce the burden. Obtained commitment by new Government to review the system.
• Workforce: Presented position on Apprenticeships Levy to HM Treasury and Department for Education ahead of Spending Review; and gained commitment by new Government to review apprenticeships. Secured Government review of National Minimum Wage (NMW) guidance and scrapping of application of higher NMW for non-guaranteed hours.
• Sustainability: Secured improvements to Modern Slavery Act, including central registry of statements, requirements on public sector organisations, and consultation on Transparency in Supply Chains consultation. Responded to Government Resources and Waste Strategy. Submitted proposal to Government for new retailer Distributor Take-back Scheme for Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment regulations.

REDUCING YOUR COST PRESSURES

• Successfully lobbied Financial Conduct Authority for a delay and subsequent implementation plan for introduction of Strong Customer Authentication. Original September 2019 date would have seen failure of up to 25-30% of retail transactions.
• Payments Survey 2019 now key lobbying tool for greater regulation of card payment fees which cost retailers £1.3bn+ per year.
• Ensured Advisory Committee on Packaging provided recommendations to Government on rising cost of PRNs, with set of potential solutions to mitigate; co-ordinated business groups to press for Government action.
• Reported to MPs that annual costs to business of current Waste and Resources Strategy equates to almost half retail industry’s annual profit – they’ve promised to respond!
• Fed into Retail Sector Council’s report on retail friction costs.
• Created Parking Toolkit with step-by-step guide for lobbying local councils to reduce parking charges.

PROTECTING YOUR BRAND

• 2.6k pieces of media coverage per month, 240+ tier 1 national titles, 130+ across Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland.
• Showcased work members are doing through Better Retail Better World and progress embedding SDGs at meeting with Oliver Dowden CBE MP.
• Op Ed piece on Fashion Economy addressing challenges retailers take on in providing environmentally sustainable clothing at affordable prices.
• Met with Brazil’s Minister of Environment on rising deforestation, emphasising members’ demand for sustainably sourced materials and products.
• Joined first Smart Technology Product Safety Forum on creation of new guidelines to protect customers.
• Met with OPSS re clothing interpreted as PPE. OPSS stopped action by one Trading Standard on a member following intervention.
• Worked with OPSS/BSI on PAS 7050: Specification for Bringing Safe Products to Market ensuring only safe non-food products reach consumers.
• Worked with EuroCommerce and UK trade associations to get effective safeguards into EU collective redress proposal.

PROVIDING OPERATIONAL SUPPORT

• 700+ colleagues gained practical advice and support through suite of Brexit events; 50+ briefings and updates on No-Deal preparations.
• New Community Hubs sharing expert insight and guidance on key issues.
• 3200+ colleagues benefited from podcasts on issues ranging from Brexit to online customer identities.
• 6,000+ colleagues received monthly updates of news, trends and practical resources.
• New Rethink Retail website to inspire careers in retail.
• New BRC Learning apprenticeships tailored for the retail industry.
• Acquired OSS Retail offering unparalleled retail leadership programmes.
• Toolkit to engage with BIDs and local authorities bidding for share of Government’s £675m Future High Streets Fund.
• New guidelines on interpreting law on food imitation; Responsible Retailing Childrenswear; toy classification; plus best advice on complying with new allergen labelling (Natasha’s law).

BENCHMARKING YOUR PERFORMANCE

NETWORKING

• 5000+ colleagues received regular insights and analytics from our team of experts.
• Monthly Retail Sales Monitors, Shop Price Indexes, Footfall and Vacancies Monitors, Retail Employment Monitors, Trends Analysis.
• New Annual UK Retail Sales Report with data representing over 50% of all UK.
• New monthly Summary of Market Conditions.
• Enhanced monthly Economic Briefing Report with insights into economic factors influencing consumers and broader retail industry.

• 2400+ colleagues from 130+ member organisations connected to our role-based communities.
• Regularly brought members together through 100+ Community Meetings.
• 1500+ colleagues attended member meetings and events on issues from digital transformation to future workforce.
• 480 senior retailers from 100+ retail organisations, including 260+ C-suite and Directors, joined Annual Retail Industry Dinner.
• 60 attendees at Annual CEO and Bi-Annual Chairman’s Dinner.