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Scottish retail leaders are adding pressure on Finance Secretary\u00a0Shona Robison\u00a0to match business rate cuts south of the border to avoid more closures. <\/p>\n
Fourteen retail leaders representing 295 stores in Scotland have signed a letter calling for a permanent business rate discount.<\/p>\n
It follows Chancellor Rachel Reeves\u2019 announcement that a 10% cut will be applied to the business rate paid by retailers in England from April.<\/p>\n
Signatories to the letter to Ms Robison include Debbie Harding of Dobbies Garden Centres, Michael Apter of Paper Tiger, Colin Temple of schuh and Stewart Robertson of Sterling Home\u00a0<\/p>\n
David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: \u201cThis is an unequivocal message from a formidable cross section of Scottish headquartered retailers which calls on Ministers to at the very least match the business rate discount on offer to retailers in England from next Spring. <\/p>\n
\u201cScottish Ministers have proved fleet of foot on rates previously, for example delivering more regular revaluations and ditching the mooted surtax on grocery stores. Hopefully, the Finance Secretary will take heed and act in her Budget next month to protect Scotland\u2019s retail industry.\u201d<\/p>\n
The joint letter from retailers to the Finance Secretary:\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dear Finance Secretary,<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Business Rate Discount for Retail<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n A thriving retail industry in Scotland is good for local and flexible jobs, the health and vitality of our town and city centres, economic growth, and ultimately for tax revenues.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n That\u2019s why as leaders of Scottish headquartered retailers we are keen to see the industry \u2013 Scotland\u2019s largest private sector employer \u2013 benefit from a retail-specific and permanently discounted business rate, as is being introduced in England from April. We understand stores down south will receive a 10 per cent discount to the business rate they pay, a welcome recognition that the industry pays a disproportionate amount in business rates.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n A retail-specific business rate discount would help us continue to invest in refurbishing our existing stores, opening new premises, and hiring store colleagues. That\u2019s critical as it keeps shops viable and attractive to shoppers, pulling customers to retail destinations and surrounding businesses, and minimising the number of boarded-up shopfronts in our communities. When a shop thrives so does the caf\u00e9 next door, the restaurant down the street, and the town and city centre around it.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n We\u2019re keen to ensure retail in Scotland has a bright future and continues to be a viable, attractive and cost-effective location to invest and trade in. Taxing shops on Scotland\u2019s high streets materially more heavily than counterparts down south could see investment slip away to other parts of the UK.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n As such we hope that you and Parliamentary colleagues can seize the moment in next month\u2019s Scottish Budget to ensure all retailers in Scotland benefit from at least as competitive a business rate as is planned for down south from April.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n With the right support businesses like ours can continue to invest locally, provide skilled and flexible jobs, and help strengthen high streets across the country.?This would send a strong and positive signal that Scotland\u2019s shops matter as places that employ people and anchor communities, as well as help deliver on our shared government\/industry vision of making \u201cScotland the best place in the UK to grow a retail business\u201d.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Yours sincerely,<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Debbie Harding, Chief People & Corporate Officer, Dobbies Garden Centres (Chair of Scottish Retail Consortium)<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Donald Begg, Managing Director, Begg Shoes<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n John Henderson, Managing Director, Born in Scotland<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Billy Farrell, Director of Income Generation, Chest Heart Stroke Scotland<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Colin McLean, Chief Executive Officer, CJ Lang & Son (SPAR Scotland)<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Graham Bell, Managing Director\/Founder, guitarguitar<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Paul Stirling, Group Retail Director, One O One Convenience Stores<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Michael Apter, Managing Director, Paper Tiger<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Kyron Keogh, Managing Director\/Co-Founder, Rox \u2013 Diamonds & Thrills<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Colin Temple, President, schuh<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Stewart Robertson, Chief Executive, Sterling Home<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Patrick Birkbeck, Managing Director, The House of Bruar<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Michael Rolland, Managing Director, The Paint Shed<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Karen Forret, Managing Director, Wilkies<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n \t <\/div>\n