Convenience store body Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has launched a new campaign urging retailers to write to their local MP calling for action on business rates in the Autumn Budget.
Ahead of the Budget, ACS is calling on the government to:
- Set new RHL multipliers 20p lower than standard and small business multipliers to offset cost pressures and support investment.
- Index Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) thresholds to reflect rising rateable values, ensuring businesses don’t lose support simply due to inflation.
- Extend and expand Improvement Relief from 12 months to three years and include plant & machinery and security systems (like CCTV) to encourage investment in energy efficiency and store safety.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said, “Convenience stores play a vital role in their local communities, from providing access to essential products and services, secure employment opportunities and acting as a social hub for their customers.
"However, many of these businesses are facing increases in their rates bills and these bills are putting a massive strain on retailers and ultimately, there are local shops facing closure due to increasing costs in areas they cannot control, and in the context of a tough trading environment.
“We are urging retailers to write to their local MP to highlight the issues that their businesses are facing and to ask them to support our calls for urgent action to create a fairer system which will help hard-pressed businesses to keep their doors open and encourage investment in these community lifelines.”
More information about the campaign and a template email for retailers to send to MPs is available here: https://www.acs.org.uk/campaigns