One of the biggest challenges facing independent businesses in South Holland is how to adapt to the internet revolution.
Retailers in particular are having to cope with the changing habits of more and more shoppers who are buying their goods online, with potentially devastating consequences for town centres in the area.
This growing trend has made it more difficult for firms to pay overheads such as wages, rent and business rates, despite the Government’s extension of small business rate relief, first introduced in October 2010 for firms occupying premises with a rateable value under £6,000.
That’s why the Spalding Guardian’s Shop Local, Eat Local, Play Local campaign in support of independent businesses in South Holland is after your support in asking the Government to make more changes to the business rates system.
In particular, our campaign wants the Government to give South Holland District Council a bigger say in how cash raised from business rates is used in the area and offer more incentives to new businesses.
Phil Scarlett, president of Spalding and District Chamber of Commerce, said: “The one thing people need to understand about business rates is that although it is collected by the district council, the money actually goes to Westminster.
“Once it goes there, it’s very difficult to influence what then happens to it.
“The British Chambers of Commerce has lobbied the Government to make changes to business rates, including the introduction of a relief period for new businesses.”