Bira news

Let’s ‘start’ at the beginning. When I say ‘beginning’ I am referring to the March Budget, when Rishi Sunak announced that hard-hit businesses would be eligible for a Restart Grant. This meant a pot of cash - up to £6,000 in some cases – for retail businesses in England preparing to reopen on April 12. And while some retailers were only set to receive £2,700, it was still something to get things started after months and months of closed shutters. Except, despite the Government handing out around £3.4 billion to local authorities, for many, the money didn’t come. Far from being a Restart Grant, the money just sat in the bank accounts of local councils – and in some case is still there. New data from the Government shows which local authorities have dished the cash out and it varies greatly between regions. For example, in East Riding, Yorkshire Council has issued £23.7 million in grants to 3,141 businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors under the scheme up to the end of May. It came from a £25.1 million pot given to the council, which leaves £1.4 million to still give away by the end this month. What is obvious though is there is still money to deliver to businesses; of the £3.4 billion, just £2.6 billion has arrived in the pockets of retailers. By my calculations that leaves £800 million to be distributed to fragile businesses when they needed it most, and I cannot express enough Bira’s disappointment in this. If that cash cannot be speedily distributed, then it needs reallocating to those who will need it next. From August 16, only the double-vaccinated will be exempt from self-isolation rules meaning that many staff who work in retail will still be absent from work if Covid cases strike. For some small businesses, relying on young, part-time workers, that can be debilitating – often meaning a temporary closure of premises. When this happens, these businesses will need a ready fund to keep them afloat – or risk further high street traders going to the wall. And so, if there is money left over from the Restart Grant fund, Bira is recommending it’s made available to these retailers. It certainly would be a start. If you would like to discuss any of this article with us, or would like to find out more about our association and the support we give independent retail business, then please contact our membership team on 0800 028 0245 or visit bira.co.uk

Andrew Goodacre, ceo, Bira

(British Independent Retailers' Association)

Bira members join the judges

A host of Bira members joined the Excellence in Housewares Awards Product Judging Panel at the end of July to help determine the finalists and winners of the coveted awards, organised by Progressive Housewares. Judges include EIH Award winning cookshops such as Trevor Mottram, Prep Cookshop and Potters Cookshop. The geographically diverse online judging panel also includes Cook Central in St Andrews, Scotland, Lawsons in Devon and Bakers and Larners in Holt, Norfolk (see News).

Below: Potters Cookshop’s Tom Carter and Alison Hobbs are among the EIH judges.

Exclusively’s £100 gift for indies

Above: Exclusively venue: Islington’s Business Design Centre.

Bira’s cookshop and housewares members are among those keenly anticipating the return to the live Exclusively show at the Business Design Centre, Islington from August 24-25. Not only can independents claim back up to £50 worth of travel expenses, but Bira members can benefit from an extra bonus: The Exclusively £100 Gift Voucher. Bira members will receive the £100 voucher once they are booked in to attend the show. When validated at the Bira stand at Exclusively, the voucher can be used towards any single order with a minimum value of £300 minimum (net VAT), placed at the show. The voucher will be accepted by all 130 Exclusively exhibitors. • For more about Exclusively see News, Exclusively Trends, PH’s Exclusively preview pages and www.exclusivelyshows.co.uk

Cash in on new partner

Bira has launched a new partnership with Starling Bank, which is now one of the association’s preferred service providers. Cookshop and housewares members who sign up for a Starling account will be able to access free business banking and multiple benefits. “We are delighted to be able to partner with Starling Bank and we believe it will be in the best interests of our members,” said Bira’s Andrew Goodacre. “Starling has established a large loyal customer base. We share the same values in that we want small retail businesses to succeed, and the very low charges are a clear sign of their support for independent retail businesses.

Against all odds

Left: High street champion Bill Grimsey has made new recommendations for the high street.

Bira has welcomed the findings of a new publication by high street champion Bill Grimsey. ‘Against All Odds’ calls for more support for indie retailers, including the ‘writing off’ of debts accrued during the pandemic. Andrew Goodacre, Bira’s ceo comments: “It is always welcome when people analyse the independent retail sector and confirm what we have always known; that indie retailers have shown great resilience and creativity to deal with the pandemic and it is clear that they are at the heart of every good high street. “The report also highlights the problem of debt to small businesses who would not normally have debt in their business model. The debt was taken on to deal with extensive lockdown periods in the past 16 months.” He continued: “Bira has continually campaigned for more support for independent retailers and the report has highlighted a real threat to their survival. We would like to see the Chancellor address the problem of the debt and remove business rates for these businesses so that there is more cash in the business to address the debt. This could be funded by the £2+ billion rates rebates returned by large essential retailers last year.”