Bira moves to support small businesses in Wales
Published: 18 March 2020 - Alex Fordham
The Welsh Government's plan to temporarily reduce - or abolish - rates for some small businesses has been welcomed by The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira).
The move, worth £200 million, has been announced to help limit the impact of COVID-19 on small businesses.
Shops, leisure and hospitality businesses in Wales with a rateable value of £51,000 or less will receive 100% business rate relief for 2020/21. Pubs with a rateable value of between £51,000 and £100,000 will receive a £5,000 reduction on their bill.
Last week, Bira urged Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to follow the emergency measures set out for England, which were announced in the Budget. Scotland has since announced it will implement its own steps to support small businesses through the global pandemic.
Andrew Goodacre, Bira's CEO, said: "Once again, common sense has prevailed and we are delighted the Welsh Government has decided to follow the measures set out in England. Any support which can be given to small retail businesses at this challenging time gets our full support."