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1 May 2024

Small shops have been more "agile" at fighting COVID sale slumps than chain stores, according to a new report.

29 Apr 2024

A Peterborough store stocking products solely from local entrepreneurs said it is bucking the High Street trend and looking to expand due to its success.

29 Apr 2024

BIRA is giving independent businesses across the UK a powerful new resource with the launch of its “High Street Matters” podcast.

29 Apr 2024

The Guardian has reported independent shopkeepers saying prices they pay at Tesco’s cash-and-carry arm Booker are often higher than in Tesco’s stores.

18 Apr 2024

Independent record stores around the country are preparing to celebrate all things vinyl for this year’s Record Store Day on Saturday April 20th. 

18 Apr 2024

BIRA, the British Independent Retailers Association, has announced its partnership with this year’s SME National Business Awards., joining the 2024 awards as a leading sponsor, backing...

18 Apr 2024

A Midlands fish and chip shop is celebrating 40 years in business and offering half-price chips to mark the milestone.

18 Apr 2024

Assaulting a shop worker is to be made a separate criminal offence in England and Wales as part of a government response to a wave of retail crime. 

18 Apr 2024

Eleven new businesses that have opened in the last year in the historic arcades of Cardiff city centre’s Morgan Quarter, made up of the Morgan and Royal arcades, have helped the arcades...

15 Apr 2024

The Rediscovery Centre, the National Centre for the Circular Economy in Ireland, today announced its partnership with Cytech, the internationally recognised training and accreditation scheme for...

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Join us in urging MPs to extend business rates holiday

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News , Political News

ThHouses of Parliament, budget 2020e Prime Minister has announced that there will be no further review of lockdown measures until at least March 8, 2020.

This means we are on the verge of marking the one-year anniversary since the first lockdown in England, which closed all non-essential retail. In that time, so-called non-essential traders have only been allowed to open for four months out of the past 12.

With that in mind, IRC member Bira is demanding the Government extend its business rates holiday past April 2021. Now more than ever, the Chancellor needs to make a commitment to help independent retailers survive the pandemic by delaying the return of business rates.

While we are doing all we can to raise this matter with Ministers, we are also urging you to get involved and write to your MP, stating your case.

To make this easy for you, we've created this template letter for you to cut and paste, and amend with your personal details before posting, or emailing it to your MP.

Your template letter here

Not sure who your MP is? Find out who represents your constituency here.

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