NEWS EXTRA
Independent shop owners urged to engage with local authorities on high street rental auctions
Independent shop owners across the UK are being encouraged by the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) to reach out to their local councils about the government’s newly announced High Street Rental Auction (HSRA) powers, which aim to tackle persistently vacant commercial properties on UK high streets. Introduced through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, the HSRA legislation will come into force on 2nd December. It will give local authorities the ability to put the leases of long-term empty shops
up for public auction, allowing businesses and community groups to secure short-term tenancies. Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira, said: “The introduction of High Street Rental Auctions is a positive step forward in revitalising our town and city centres. For far too long, disengaged landlords have been allowed to leave key commercial properties sitting vacant, to the detriment of local businesses and communities.” “We urge all independent shop owners who have experienced issues with persistently empty premises in their area to engage with their local council.
Screwfix gives a voice to the trade in government
Following the release of its ‘Voice of the Trade’ report earlier this year, which surveyed over 1,000 of the nation’s hardworking tradespeople, Screwfix, in partnership with its parent company Kingfisher, invited several finalists and winners from its Top Tradesperson and Trade Apprentice competitions to share their
insights with MPs, civil servants, and Lords at the Houses of Parliament. Speaking at the parliamentary event were Mohammed Rahman, Screwfix Top Tradesperson 2024, and Astrid Arnold who won the title in 2023. With recent from Screwfix’s report highlighting 79% of SMEs and sole traders have been unable to take on an
apprentice, both Mohammed and Astrid used their speeches to call for clearer support from those charged with policy to aid not only those thinking of entering the trades, but also to help the small, often sole traders, who might be unable to take on an apprentice. Talking of their own journeys into the trade, Mohammed touched on the importance of role models when it comes to attracting fresh talent into the industry, drawing on his own experience as the first in his family to enter the trades. He said: “I was encouraged to go
These new rental a provides an opportunity for retailers and other organisations to gain access to high street spaces that may have previously been off-limits.” The government has committed over £1 million in funding to support the HSRA process, which aims to breathe new life into town centres by bringing businesses, community services and customers back to the high street. Goodacre added: “High
streets are the beating heart of our local communities, and we cannot allow them to wither away due to landlord inaction. These new rental auction powers give opportunities to established
or new retailers to secure affordable, short-term tenancies and expand their reach within their community.”
Bira is encouraging independent retailers to contact their local authority to understand how the HSRA scheme will be implemented in their area. The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) works with over 6,000 independent businesses of all sizes, and it’s our goal to make every member feel supported, informed and inspired. We’re here to offer help independent retail businesses didn’t even know they needed.
Find out more at:
bira.co.uk
down the route to university when I finished school, because that’s what everyone did. Yet I embarked on an apprenticeship. It wasn’t easy, in fact it took me
over a year to find one, but I persevered, and it’s paid off. I want to use my story, and platform to be the role model that I needed growing up, showing people how rewarding a career in the trade can be. “But it can’t just fall onto the shoulders of tradespeople, we need the support from government to drive this, not only helping businesses and apprentices with financial support, but also in the way apprenticeships are perceived – this needs to change, so they are viewed as a valid and valuable career choice.”
THE GCA REVEALS ‘ENCOURAGING’ OCTOBER FIGURES FOR ITS MEMBERS
October’s Garden Centre Association (GCA) Barometer of Trade (BoT) figures (released on 20 November 20) show ‘an encouraging set of figures.’ From the results entered by the
GCA’s member garden centres for the month, it was revealed, when compared to October 2023, that nine of the 13 categories recorded were up.
GCA CEO, Peter Burks explains:
“It’s an encouraging set of figures for the month with the significant increases on indoor categories outweighing the losses on the outdoor ones. “Gardening and outdoor projects
8 DIY WEEK NOVEMBER 2024
were clearly not on the jobs list last month, but as usual eating was, with food halls/farm shops and catering doing well. It’s also great to see a decent start to Christmas sales and another very good month for gifts.” The best recorded category for October 2024, when compared to the same month in 2023, was food hall/ farm shop at +12.2%, with catering next at +11.61% and clothing sales in third place at +9.62%.
Houseplants came in next at +8.6%, then gifts +7.39%, seeds and bulbs at +5.02%, Christmas at +2.95% and the miscellaneous category was +0.98%.
Pets & aquatics came in next and
recorded +0.35%, and outdoor plants down at -3.19%. Hard landscaping was down at -6.54%, garden sundries -6.77% and furniture & BBQs at -8.96%.
The GCA BoT reports are compiled using actual sales figures and provide
an up-to-date trading position statement. They are made available mid-month following the end of the prior month after all member garden centres have submitted their results. The BoT allows members to compare their trading positions with other centres. The GCA represents more than 200 garden centres nationwide. Through sharing information and its inspection programme the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.
For further information, please visit:
www.gca.org.uk
www.diyweek.net
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