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9 May 2023

A mixed picture is emerging about the effect of the Coronation weekend across the UK's retail sector.

9 May 2023

Nominations have opened for the 2023 British Business Awards.

9 May 2023

The European retail sector has enjoyed its best month for international spending on Tax Free goods since the end of the pandemic after sales surged by 40% month on month in March 2023, taking...

22 Nov 2022

The IRC has joined bira and other retail trade associations in backing the ‘Colour Friday’ alternative to this week’s Black Friday sales.

17 Nov 2022

Retail and small business organisations have given a cautious welcome to business-focused aspects of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.

17 Nov 2022

Cycle retailers around the UK facing up to the imminent challenges of recession will need to stay one step ahead of the curve to survive. Now is the time to benefit from being part of something...

24 Oct 2022

New research has indicated that UK shoppers could spend £4.4bn less on essentials ahead of Christmas – a 22% drop as the rising cost of living impacts on disposable income.

14 Oct 2022

The Department for Business is asking all businesses to respond to a survey on energy bills and the impact increased costs are having on your business. The IRC is similarly urging members to...

2 Sep 2022

ActSmart, ACT, Booksellers Association, Craft Bakers Association, British Sandwich & Food to Go Association and the Café Life Association from the Independent Retailers’...

19 May 2022

Our research found agreement that a minimum OST threshold could help to rebalance the burden of tax across the industry, generate revenue to reduce business rates for smaller businesses,...

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Time for indie retailers to lobby MPs for energy help

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News , Creative News, Outdoor News, Political News

ActSmart, ACT, Booksellers Association, Craft Bakers Association, British Sandwich & Food to Go Association and the Café Life Association from the Independent Retailers’ Confederation are throwing their weight behind Bira, the British Independent Retailers Association, for shop owners to lobby their local MPs for energy help.

The IRC fully supports bira’s call for a cap on energy increases for businesses, a cut in VAT and more funding for investment in low-energy technology. Independent retailers have now been advised to take these appeals directly to their own MPs.

Andrew Goodacre, CEO of bira, says: “With energy prices soaring, we all need to take action. This cannot continue and we need our local MPs to sit up and take note.

“We hope by all our indies also taking a stand we can create some real noise and action off the back of this, putting pressure on those in power and getting our voices heard.”

Bira have created a template letter which can be amended and sent directly to your MP. You can download that letter here.

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