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Business rate reform called for as industry reacts to landslide Labour election win

9 Jul 2024

Following Labour’s general election win, the retail industry has stressed the need for a business rates overhaul to protect high streets across the country.
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Bira calls on new Labour government to prioritise independent retail sector

9 Jul 2024

Following Labour’s landslide Election victory, Bira, the British Independent Retailers Association, has urged the new government to make good on its promise of change by prioritising the... Read more…

Much loved toyshop saved by owner's daughter

9 Jul 2024

A much-loved toy shop in Aberystwyth that was facing closure has been saved after the former shopkeeper's daughter decided to take over the reins.
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Inverness-based retailer wins coveted Drapers Award for Best Independent Footwear Retailer

9 Jul 2024

A family-owner retailer in Inverness, Begg Shoes, has been named Best Independent Footwear Retailer at the 2024 Drapers Footwear Awards, held annually to celebrate the outstanding achievements... Read more…

'Pay-as-you-feel' barber wins hairdressing award

9 Jul 2024

A man who offers "pay-as-you-feel" haircuts has been named the UK's best barber.
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The Times publishes its list of the seven best shopping streets in the UK

24 Jun 2024

The Times has just published its list of the seven best shopping streets in the UK.
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Indie retail village wins Hospitality Hero Velvet Award for 2024

24 Jun 2024

An independent retail village in Ely that celebrates its one-year anniversary this month has won the Hospitality Hero Velvet Award for 2024.
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Bike shop owner slams police’s “abject apathy” after three shops broken into in one night

24 Jun 2024

A cycle shop owner has criticised the police’s “abject apathy” towards bike theft after thieves attempted to break into his store for the second time in a year, on the same... Read more…

A simple comparison of the General Election manifestos

24 Jun 2024

With less than three weeks to go until the General Election, Bira has produced a simple table comparing manifestos for Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Green Party and Reform UK, and... Read more…

Independents Day message - supporting independent shops boosts local jobs and economies.

24 Jun 2024

With the annual Independents’ Day weekend coming up on July 6th and 7th, independent retailers have been reinforcing the message that supporting independent shops boosts... Read more…

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Welsh Government Announce £20m Future Proofing Fund for Retail Businesses in Wales

Posted on in Business News

A number of organisations, including Bira (the British Independent Retailers’ Association), other trade associations, BIDs and unions have met with officials from the Welsh Government to discuss the coming availability of a £20m Future Proofing Fund to help businesses to strengthen their profitability through investment in their business.

welsh Deagon


Available to retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 will be awarded to cover up to 75% of project costs or £10,000, whichever is the lesser amount and it is expected that businesses will fund the remaining 25% from other sources.

The fund will be available for eligible businesses in Wales, either headquartered or having an operating address in Wales, who employ people in Wales.

In a recent press release from Gov.wales, Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said:

“The ongoing cost-of-living and cost-of-doing-business crises continues to present difficulties to businesses across Wales.

These grants will help micro, small and medium sized businesses from the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors to make some significant changes in the way they run their operations so they can adapt for the future.”

The final details and criteria of the funding are being agreed at this moment and we will share complete details as soon as we see them.

There will be an eligibility checker opened on the Gov.wales website in mid-April 2024 and applications will open in May 2024.

It's important to note that the application window will remain open for just 3 weeks or until the fund has been exhausted.   It will therefore be vital that businesses act quickly to work out projects and to collate the necessary evidence and data required, ready for the application window in May.

Our understanding is that projects will be assessed towards the end of Spring 24, and successful businesses will be announced around August 2024.

Any funded projects must be delivered and claimed for by the end of the financial year.

“This £20m fund is a great opportunity for businesses in Wales, but it’s important to note that it will only extend to 2,000, maybe 2,500 businesses, so it’s imperative that you keep a close eye on the timeframes involved and act quickly once the eligibility checker and the subsequent application window opens up.” said John Halliday, Bira’s Director of Marketing.

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