BRC launches ‘Manifesto for Retail’ ahead of General Election
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak must call an election no later than January 2025 and many experts expect the election to take place in the Autumn of this year
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has announced the launch of its “Manifesto for Retail” ahead of the anticipated General Election this year.
The organisation has laid out a vision with three main aims, a more coordinated approach to tax and regulation, jobs and Net Zero and the circular economy.
On tax and regulation the BRC believes the government needs a plan for the industry that recognises the cumulative burden of government policy and the impact this has on investment and growth.
On jobs the BRC would like to see reform to the Apprenticeship Levy so funds can be used to meet a wider range of training needs.
The organisation states that this is in response to retail jobs becoming more digital and higher skilled.
Lastly, the BRC is calling for new waste and resources regulation that provides meaningful improvements to recycling rates and the use of recyclable materials, without unnecessarily raising costs for consumers.
According to the BRC, retail is the largest private sector employer, providing 3 million direct jobs, and 2.7 million more in the supply chain in the UK.
Prime minister Rishi Sunak must call an election no later than January 2025 and many experts expect the election to take place in the Autumn of this year.
Helen Dickinson, BRC chief executive, said: “The UK has one of the most developed retail offerings in the world, employing three million people and playing a key role in every community in the country. As political parties gear up for the next election, we need a different way of working with government so that we can use the industry’s size, scale and reach to deliver more.
“That means removing the blockages which hold the industry back, preventing it reaching its full potential. It’s time to support the upskilling of workers and accelerate our journey to net zero, while finding ways to address any unnecessary burdens on the industry and its sixty million customers.”
She added: “By delivering a more business-friendly approach to retail, the industry can deliver on its own vision – a net zero, digitally transformed industry which provides higher skilled, better paid jobs and more investment in local communities. It’s time to unleash the industry’s size, scale and reach to drive greater positive change.”
