The British Retail Consortium
@the_brc
ποΈ The voice of British #retail. Follow for the latest thinking, news and data from the British Retail Consortium. For our learning programmes π @BRCLearning
Inflation Shakes Consumer Confidence. π The latest BRC-@OpiniumResearch Consumer Sentiment Monitor has revealed that UK consumers are growing more pessimistic about the economy as prices continue to rise. π brc.org.uk/news-and-eventβ¦

Retail crime in Scotland. π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ π°The @dailyrecord's new figures on crime shows the need for Scottish Government to sustain and enhance the Β£3m Retail Crime Taskforce. #retailcrime dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-β¦
Second-hand shopping is thriving. According to the latest BRC-@OpiniumResearch survey, more people than ever are buying and selling pre-loved items - with 7 out of 10 categories seeing year-on-year growth. π brc.org.uk/news-and-eventβ¦

Retail crime soaring. π Read more in the @FT. π° ft.com/content/93b263β¦
Lords amendments to Employment Rights Bill will protect local jobs says BRC CEO Helen Dickinson. π¬ If the Commons ignore the changes, this will undermine the Governmentβs own plans to get Britain working again as fewer flexible, part-time jobs will be available. β

Shoplifting offences rose by 20% in the year ending March 2025 according to the @ONS. π Retail crime is spiralling out of control. π The new standalone offence for assaulting a retail worker must protect all staff in customer facing roles, including delivery drivers. π

Yesterday in the House of Lords, Lord Hunt expressed concerns around what the Employment Rights Bill might mean for job flexibility. π¬ The ERB must protect workers without penalising flexibility. π Read more on page 20 of our Retail Manifesto.π brc.org.uk/priorities/202β¦
π΄σ §σ ’σ ·σ ¬σ ³σ ΏA busy couple of days for the Welsh Retail Consortium at the 2025 Royal Welsh Show. πͺ Engaging with politicians, retailers (@Tesco and @marksandspencer) and the @NFUtweets. π€ #retail




πThis year's winners of BRC-@Visa's Let's Celebrate Towns: π€ Small Business Support - Ramsgate π§βπ« Future Skills - Gosport π Connectivity - Morecambe π‘ Powering Change β Swanley β»οΈ Circularity - Malton & Norton πͺ High Street Transformation - Wallsend
Let's Celebrate Towns 2025. π Last week was the annual BRC-Visa Let's Celebrate Towns Award in Parliament. π This annual competition acknowledges the significant role of UK towns in driving local economic growth and supporting community-led initiatives. π


π°The front page lead in @TheScotsman by David Bol reveals that Scottish firms have shelled out Β£580 million more in tax than their counterparts in England over the past 10 years. π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ ΏWith input from SRC Director, David Lonsdale. scotsman.com/news/politics/β¦

Our ask on business rates reform was covered in the @thetimes over the weekend. π° Changes to the business rates system must leave no shop paying more. π· Read more below.π thetimes.com/business-moneyβ¦
Insight from our CEO, Helen Dickinson, in @RetailWeek on what current business rates reform proposals mean for the retail industry. π° Read the article now.π retail-week.com/legal-and-reguβ¦
''Don't rob Peter to pay Paul.' π¬ The message from BRC CEO, Helen Dickinson, who spoke to @TimesRadio yesterday, covering the business rates hike many retailers are facing under proposals to reform the system. πΈ #noshoppaysmore
Our Employment Policy Adviser has written an op-ed for @Drapers on why the Employment Rights Bill must strike the right balance and avoid unintended consequences. βοΈ Read it now! π drapersonline.com/people/workplaβ¦
Director of the Scottish retail Consortium, David Lonsdale, spoke to @BBCRadioScot this morning on the latest SRC-@KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. π» Sales were down in June as consumers prioritised experiences such as holidays and concerts. ποΈ π€ #retail
Great to engage with the Minister to explore how kitchen knife design can reduce knife crime with a particular cous on changing consumer behaviour. π€ Members can read a summary of the meeting here.π brc.org.uk/news-and-eventβ¦
Our mission to halve knife crime requires a radical and holistic approach. Yesterday I met with key retailers and suppliers to discuss how we can increase the manufacture and sale of rounded knives. We are listening and we will stop at nothing to save lives.
Food inflation on the rise. π₯ The latest @ONS CPI showed food inflation rising to 4.5%. CEO, Helen Dickinson, spoke to @Channel4News yesterday reacting to the figures. πΉ The message is clear: business rates reform later this year must leave no shop paying more. π #retail
BRC CEO, Helen Dickinson, spoke to @bbc5live this morning, previewing new inflation figures. π The Chancellor must avoid putting more financial strain on retail and its consumers. This can be done by ensuring no shop pays more as a result of business rates reform. π #retail
Budget feeding food #inflation. π Food inflation rose once again according to the latest @ONS Consumer Price Index. π₯ As BRC Director of Insight Kris Hamer states, the Government must ensure business rates reforms leaves no shop paying more. π¬ #retail
