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3 Sep 2026

Ahead of Cycling Industry Live 2026, which runs over 20-21 September 2026 at NAEC Stoneleigh in Warwickshire, fresh statistics have emphasised how important the bike trade believes getting...

1 Sep 2026

A risk audit can help retailers identify gaps between their security setup and insurance requirements before a costly incident puts their cover at risk. Joanna Evans, Head of Bikmo for Business,...

28 Aug 2026

The growing impact of the E-Bike Positive campaign comes as new evidence highlights the need for consumers to understand the difference between safe, legal e-bikes and illegal e-bikes that can...

21 Aug 2026

A new report from the Urban Transport Group (UTG) has called for greater investment in walking, wheeling and cycling to make public transport journeys more accessible and create better-connected...

21 Aug 2026

Free entry is on offer for visitors to Cycling Industry News Live 2026, with the two-day cycling industry event returning to NAEC Stoneleigh in Warwickshire on Sunday 20 and Monday 21...

20 Aug 2026

The City of London Police’s dedicated Cycling Team has seized more than 800 non-compliant e-bikes and e-motorbikes since launching in 2023, with the specialist unit adapting its tactics as...

20 Aug 2026

Falling gig-economy pay and increasing competition are creating incentives for delivery riders to use faster, illegal electric vehicles to complete more orders, while also creating wider...

19 Aug 2026

London’s Cycleway network has grown five-fold over the past decade to 450km, but cycling industry campaigners say more needs to be done across the UK to replicate the progress made in the...

4 Aug 2026

The Association of Cycle Traders (ACT) and the Bicycle Association (BA) are delighted to announce that the E-Bike Positive campaign has been shortlisted in the Cycle Advocacy category at the...

4 Aug 2026

The Metropolitan Police have seized more than 2,500 illegal electric bikes and e-scooters so far this year – already exceeding the total number seized during the whole of 2025.

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750 UK firms sued daily for failing to pay rocketing business rates

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News

 All councils within England were requested to provide details of how many businesses had been taken to court for non-payment of their business rates during the 2018/19 financial year. Figures show that a total of 171,018 businesses were summoned, which totals 9.83% of the 1,740,073 non-domestic properties liable for business rates.


According to real estate firm, Altus Group, the overall number works out at around 750 businesses being summoned across England every single day. The tax that medium and large businesses in England are required to pay rose by 2.4% on 1st April for 2019/20, making it the first time that the tax rates for businesses in England has gone above 50%.


The top five councils with the most summons, by volume, were Westminster (6,882); Birmingham (6,166); Manchester (5,228); Liverpool (4,254) and Leeds (3,497).

 

How to reduce your business rates


While business rates often account for a large portion of expenditure, it is generally unknown that many businesses could actually be paying less. ActSmart are partnered with RatesRecovery, a leading business rates appeal company whose specialist Chartered Surveyors have over 40 years of experience in saving businesses money.


RatesRecovery with ActSmart can offer you a free consultation, 20% off the standard fee and a no win no fee guarantee. RatesRecovery count Mothercare, Specsavers, English Rural and 4com among the many thousands of businesses they have represented but regardless of the size of your business RatesRecovery will take all the hassle out of appealing.


RatesRecovery guarantee their clients:

  • An honest and transparent service with help and advice available whenever it is required
  • High levels of savings with no upfront charges and a no win, no fee service
  • Support from highly experienced Chartered Surveyors
  • Only a Chartered Surveyor will visit you; never a sales person

Visit the ActSmart wesbite to find out more information on how you can reduce your business rates.

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