Trade associations plead for action to save small firms from energy crisis

Trade associations representing high-street businesses including pubs, breweries, hairdressers, local shops and other small businesses have today (7) written to the Chair of the newly formed Energy Security Committee to plead for urgent action to save them from the energy crisis.

In a joint letter to Angus MacNeil MP, Chair of the newly formed cross-party Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, organisations including the British Beer and Pub Association, the Association of Convenience Stores, National Hair & Beauty Federation and the Federation of Small Businesses have outlined the “unprecedented cost pressures arising from non-domestic energy supply”, urging the group to convene an urgent inquiry into supplier behaviour and save small businesses across the country from ruin.

Together, the organisations represent businesses supporting millions of jobs across the country and have each raised the alarm about the extreme burden placed on them by rocketing energy costs in the past year.

Now, the groups have joined together to warn of the potential huge losses that will be felt in communities and on highstreets across the country if nothing is done to protect businesses from high costs and poor practice by suppliers.

In a joint statement a representative for the organisations said: “Business owners across the country are feeling powerless at the hands of energy suppliers. They have seen energy bills rise exponentially in the past year and despite heading into warmer months this pain is set to continue. Some businesses had little or no choice but to lock into extremely costly contracts at the height of the energy crisis and will and many will be paying over the odds for the next 12 months and beyond.

“These local businesses are well-loved assets, central pillars in their neighbourhoods, and if it weren’t for energy bills wiping out their profits would be running successfully thanks to the ongoing custom and support of their communities.

“We are urging the Committee to use its powers to recognise this crisis as a real tangible threat to the existence of businesses across the country and convene an urgent inquiry into the conduct of suppliers.”