Published: Tuesday 17th July 2018 | 12.36pm
Cannock Chase Council’s Economic Development team has won a prestigious award from the Federation of Small Business (FSB) following its work on town centre business rates to attract retailers into empty retail units.
The team achieved the `Best in Class` category at the FSB Local Authority Small Business Friendly Awards 2018 held in Birmingham last Friday, when the FSB annually recognises councils for their support for small firms.
Empty units is a particular problem for many UK town centres but across its town centres of Cannock, Hednesford and Rugeley, the Council has been proactively helping retailers take on empty retail units by offering 100% discounts on business rates for 12 months or 24 months (worth up to £10,000) or by making a contribution of £10,000 towards business rates.
Councillor Gordon Alcott, Economic Development and Planning Portfolio Leader at Cannock Chase Council said: “We all know these are challenging times for retailers so being able to discount business rates, when certain conditions are met, is one of the best measures we can take to help our town centre retailers.
“What is also pleasing is that this is the first time this award has been given to a local authority. We know the FSB are now keen to promote the work we are doing here as a model for other councils to consider as part of their support for small businesses.”
Karen Woolley, Development Manager for the Federation of Small Business said:
“Next to rent and staff costs, business rates are the third largest expenditure for small businesses. This is an area that has proved difficult for local authorities to offer best support on as many of the measures are passed down from central government.
“However, Cannock Chase Council has put together a set of innovative measures to offer support to businesses most in need, particularly in the retail sector. It is a sector that is often excluded from traditional business support mechanisms.
“The FSB is extremely grateful for the work of Cannock Chase Council and awarding the Council for its efforts on this issue is an absolute pleasure”.
Photograph:
With the coveted FSB award (second from left) is Cllr Gordon Alcott, Economic Development and Planning Portfolio Leader of Cannock Chase Council, with David Caro, Owner of Qualplast (1991) Ltd and an FSB member, Jessica Montana, Economic Regeneration Support Officer at Cannock Chase Council (centre), Matthew Johnson, Economic Regeneration Support Officer at Cannock Chase Council (second from right) and Ian Preston, FSB Area Lead for the West Midlands and Staffordshire.