Wrendale Designs’ founder Hannah Dale, winner of The Greats Outstanding Achievement Award in May, made the most of a recent invitation to 10 Downing Street from His Majesty’s Treasury. Given the opportunity of speaking to the Chancellor and top politicians, to include Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, she highlighted the impact business rates are having on retailers.
Hannah told PGBuzz.net, the sister online title to GiftsandHome.net: “I went armed with a list of things I was hoping to raise – in the end I had to pick my highest priority so I made a plea on behalf of our retailers.
“I stressed the pressure they’re under with increasing costs and the burden the current business rates system is putting on them, impacting bricks-and-mortar retailers disproportionately. Labour has made promises to overhaul this system to help the high street and I wanted to reiterate how important this is to our industry and advocate for the urgency of reform given how much pressure retailers are under.”
Continued Hannah: “In typical politician fashion they weren’t giving too much away, but I’m pleased I was able to fly the flag for our industry and hopefully our voices will be heard when the Budget is revealed on 30 October.”
Hannah’s invitation was to the reception, (held last week on 15 October), and followed the international investment summit where the government claims £63billion worth of private investment was pledged. It will create nearly 38,000 jobs across the UK in tech AI development, a new freight terminal at the Port of Immingham, offshore windfarms, renewable energy generation, and health measures – but retail and the creative industries don’t get a mention.
The Chancellor told the gathering – partly intended to give small businesses and female entrepreneurs an opportunity to network with leaders from the investment community as well as government and trade body bosses – that she was “under no illusions” that growth in the economy is “driven by the private sector, and by entrepreneurs like those in the room tonight”, adding “my message to you is simple, you’ve got a friend in me, and in the Treasury I run.”
Although inflation fell to 1.7% last month, dropping below the Bank Of England’s 2% target for the first time in more than three years, according to the latest consumer price index, food inflation rose to 1.9% – and the CPI figure determines the rise to business rates due in April, with the retail industry facing an estimated additional £140million in payments.
Top: Wrendale’s founder and creative director, Hannah Dale, heading into No 10 Downing Street to make her voice heard.
