UK retail groups urge government action to support high streets

British retail organizations are calling for government intervention to support the sector and its workforce. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has released a ‘Buy into Retail’ manifesto containing ten demands intended to stimulate investment, reduce costs, and create jobs.

The BRC highlights that rising employment costs, specifically increases in employer National Insurance contributions and the National Living Wage, have added approximately £6.5 billion to retail costs over a two-year period. To combat this, the BRC suggests reducing employer National Insurance contributions for workers under 25 and maintaining the lower National Minimum Wage rate for 18-to-20-year-olds to incentivize entry-level hiring.

Additionally, the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira), representing over 6,000 independent businesses, has responded to the chancellor’s growth ambitions. While welcoming the focus on growth, Bira emphasized that independent retailers need to see tangible benefits reflected in their own cost bases to sustain operations.