EU-US trade talks should create a more level playing field by removing taxes on European brewers from which their American competitors are exempt, said panellists at the 4,500-strong Brewers of Europe’s annual Beer Serves Europe gala highlighting a sector that supports 2 million jobs. Whilst the EU sets a level playing field and the reduced
EVERCREECH’S Wild Beer Co took some of their ales to Brussels at the request of the European Parliamentary Beer Group. The brewers, along with Ashcott’s Ordnance City Brewery, are among a group of brewers from the region who represented the south west at the Members of European Parliament (MEPs) Christmas conference. Holly Frampton, of Ordnance
Horizons’ latest Ones To Watch report shows that ethnic restaurants are amongst the fastest-growing areas of the branded eating out sector as new brands begin to colonize areas of the foodservice sector previously dominated by independents. The report includes a record number of new concepts – with 105 Ones To Watch brands, and 88 Bubbling
CAMRA has welcomed moves by the Chancellor to reduce the burden business rates impose on community pubs. “CAMRA welcomes the Chancellor’s decision to cut business rate bills for the majority of pubs by £1,000. This is in addition to an extension of the current small business rate relief provisions for a further year. The Chancellor’s £1,000 windfall
EU-US trade talks should create a more level playing field by removing taxes on European brewers from which their American competitors are exempt, said panellists at the 4,500-strong Brewers of Europe’s annual Beer Serves Europe gala highlighting a sector that supports 2 million jobs.
Whilst the EU sets a level playing field and the reduced excise tax rate permitted by the EU[1] for small brewers is available also to small US brewers importing to the EU, the equivalent small brewer tax relief in the US only applies to domestically-produced beer, putting EU brewers exporting to the US at an important disadvantage, Brigid Simmonds OBE, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, told the gathering on Wednesday.
EVERCREECH’S Wild Beer Co took some of their ales to Brussels at the request of the European Parliamentary Beer Group.
The brewers, along with Ashcott’s Ordnance City Brewery, are among a group of brewers from the region who represented the south west at the Members of European Parliament (MEPs) Christmas conference.
Holly Frampton, of Ordnance City Brewery drove to Brussels in a van loaded with beers from across the south west. She met up with Bret Ellis and Andrew Cooper from Wild Beer to present their ales.
Horizons’ latest Ones To Watch report shows that ethnic restaurants are amongst the fastest-growing areas of the branded eating out sector as new brands begin to colonize areas of the foodservice sector previously dominated by independents. The report includes a record number of new concepts – with 105 Ones To Watch brands, and 88 Bubbling Under brands (identified as those yet to reach five outlets). Read more
CAMRA has welcomed moves by the Chancellor to reduce the burden business rates impose on community pubs.
“CAMRA welcomes the Chancellor’s decision to cut business rate bills for the majority of pubs by £1,000. This is in addition to an extension of the current small business rate relief provisions for a further year. The Chancellor’s £1,000 windfall offers a vital lifeline for struggling licensees and will help keep pubs open.”
“All but the largest community pubs will benefit from this £1,000 reduction in business rates and around a quarter will additionally gain from the retention of the current small business rate relief for another year. These decisions are key in helping secure the future of pubs and reverse a decade of decline which has seen more than 10,000 pubs close.”
The Royal Pavilion Ice Rink invited organisers of Brighton’s Christmas Pudding Race for a warm up on the ice to make their final call for more teams to sign up for next week’s fun race on New Road to raise funds for Cancer Research UK at 11am on 14 December.
Said Jessica Blake of Cancer Research UK, “The race is a challenge of dexterity, balance, speed and general silliness – you’ll be balancing your pudding on a tray whilst negotiating our perilous obstacle course and the challenge will be staying on your feet, with your pudding.
Fitness is not a requirement!”
Pub, bar and casual dining businesses have today welcomed the news that employer National Insurance Contributions for under 21 year_olds will be scrapped in April 2015. ALMR research shows that nearly a fifth of all employees in licensed hospitality are under 21 and that the sector created 1 in 6 of all new jobs for that age group in the past year alone. Responding to the announcement, ALMR Strategic Affairs Director, Kate Nicholls, said:
“The removal of the jobs tax for under 21s will be a boon to youth employment, investment in training and sustainable job creation in the licensed hospitality trade. This is a sector which offers jobs in all regions and at all skill levels – from entry level to graduate recruitment – and rapid career progression. It gives so many young people their first job and equips them with the transferable skills they need to succeed.”
Chancellor delivers help for small firms, says FSB
Responding to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, delivered today the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has said it builds on economic growth and will provide real help for small firms’ overheads through action on business rates and fuel duty.
John Allan, National Chairman, Federation of Small Businesses, said:
“Today’s Autumn Statement represents steady progress, with a range of announcements that address members’ concerns in the cost of doing business, with action on business rates and confirmation that next year’s fuel duty rise will be cancelled.
The British Beer & Pub Association has welcomed the Chancellor’s decision in his Autumn Statement to extend Small Business Rate Relief to April 2015, which will avoid a massive £27 million bill for thousands of pubs across the country – as campaigned for by the Better Rates for Pubs campaign.
It is very good news that 38,000 (three in four) pubs will get a £1,000 discount in their rates bill, as they have a rateable valuation of less than £50,000.
The decision to cap increases in Business Rates to two per cent is also a very positive move that will help pubs to avoid £7.8 million on the previously proposed increases.
Domestic Leisure Tourism Trends for the Next Decade outlines key technological, demographic and economic factors that will change the face of the industry.
It claims that the increasing demand for immediate communication and the use of social media will heighten the fear of missing out – or ‘FOMO’ – driving the desire for broader leisure activities and new experiences.
As a result, tourism businesses will fall behind if they fail to customise their offer to mobile platforms or to make better use of apps to provide potential customers with the best virtual experience on offer.
The report highlights another consumer trend driven by access to technology: ‘individualocracy’ – the desire for personalised, tailored products and services and the expectation that these can be provided.
50,000 interviews reveal the true picture of SME finance
BDRC Continental (www.bdrc-continental.com) today publishes the tenth wave of its quarterly SME Finance Monitor investigating the availability of external finance for the UK’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The largest and most frequent study of its kind in the UK, research findings date back to the start of 2010 and are now based on more than 50,000 interviews with SMEs. The full report can be found online at http://www.sme-finance-monitor.co.uk/
The latest wave includes interviews up to the end of Q3 2013. Key findings include:
