Autumn is an important period for setting political agendas and at the BRC, we have been busy engaging with MPs to discuss the future of the retail industry and how we can maximise its potential in local communities across the country.

Kicking off the Party Conferences this year, we visited sunny Brighton, where we had some great discussions with senior Liberal Democrats and new MPs.  The key theme of their Business Day was industrial strategy, during which party leader Sir Ed Davey, deputy leader Daisy Cooper, and then-Treasury and Business spokesperson Sarah Olney (now Cabinet Spokesperson) highlighted the need for partnership between government and business to develop and implement a comprehensive plan.  This collaboration is vital for the retail industry, and we are keen to work hand in hand with key policymakers to drive positive change impacting the sector.

The Lib Dem manifesto commitments were also reiterated, promising to tackle key issues facing retailers, including replacing business rates with a commercial landowner levy and turning the Apprenticeship Levy into a more flexible skills levy.  We look forward to engaging closely with the Lib Dems on these policy priorities and advancing important discussions on these issues in the future.

Representatives from the BRC were out in full force at the LabourConference2024, calling on the new government to BuyIntoRetail and harness the industry’s potential to deliver economic growth, upskill the workforce and accelerate the transition to net zero and the circular economy.

It was great to see so many of you at our drinks reception as we gathered to celebrate the industry, with our CEO Helen Dickinson and Simon Roberts, CEO of Sainsbury’s highlighting the important contributions retail makes to the economy every year.  As the largest private sector employer, supporting 5.7 million jobs and accounting for 5% of GDP, the retail industry is in a unique position to make a significant contribution to public policy goals.  Although unable to share more policy detail than what was outlined in Labour’s manifesto, Retail Minister Gareth Thomas underlined the importance of the government working with businesses and we are eager to see them put this into practice.

Our call for essential reform to the broken business rates system to better support the retail industry was reiterated at our fringe event. Helen was joined by Jo Whitfield (CEO, Matalan), Nick Stowe (CEO, Adena Brands) and Giles Wilkes (Specialist Partner, Flint Global) on a panel chaired by Ashley Armstrong (Business Editor, The Sun) to debate our headline Budget ask – the introduction of a Retail Rates Corrector.  Helen outlined that a 20% adjustment to the rates bills of all retail properties to correct the disproportionate tax burden on retail would alleviate the current pressures on the industry, helping to reduce store closures and limit job losses. Treasury Secretary James Murray added that the government recognises retail’s important role to play, given its reach and scale, and reiterated Labour’s commitment to replace the business rates system with one that will ‘level the playing field.’ We anticipate further detail in the Autumn Budget on 30^th October when the Chancellor publishes her accompanying business tax roadmap.  

Apprenticeships and skills were prominent topics at Conference this year.  New detail emerged on government plans to turn the Apprenticeship Levy into a Growth and Skills Levy, and the Skills Levy would include new foundational apprenticeships and funding for apprenticeships that are shorter than 12 months.  We also welcomed the government’s mission for safer streets as Home Secretary Yvette Cooper highlighted that 13,000 more neighbourhood police officers and a standalone offence for violence and abuse against retail workers would be introduced to tackle antisocial behaviour and shoplifting. Labour’s pledge to establish a Circular Economy Taskforce and Small Ministerial Group to oversee a Circular Economy Strategy that would help reduce waste and achieve a greener tomorrow was also a topic of interest.

We also attended the Conservative Party Conference where business groups were thinner on the ground than normal, while proceedings were dominated by campaigning from the four candidates vying to lead the party. Still, we managed to catch up with some current and former MPs and the Shadow Business Secretary, Kevin Hollinrake. Once the elections have concluded later this month, we look forward to engaging with the new Conservative Party leader and their team to discuss the issues facing the retail industry.

Placing retail at the forefront of conversations that matter is more important than ever as we seek to collaborate with the government and drive positive and long-term change.  We have had productive conversations with key political figures and policymakers across the political spectrum and it was great to catch up with many of our members at the Party Conferences too. We look forward to collaborating with the government and continuing our engagement with key policymakers as we approach the Autumn Budget.