We’ve helped a little by refining their website as well.
We think this is a great initiative and it takes the message out beyond Croydon to the rest of London and is even having success further afield. You can join more than 10,000 others by signing the petition today – it only takes 60 seconds – and help save our high streets and local community business. Let’s all put pressure on UK Parliament to increase the rateable value grant cap from £51k to £150k for Retail, Hospitality, Leisure businesses
Their press coverage is being managed by Katie Blake of Kallaway and their press release is hard-hitting with the headline: EIGHT WEEKS TO SAVE THE NATION’S HIGH STREETS FROM ARMAGEDDON. It has had great coverage across national press and radio as well as the attention of 86 conservative MP’s and key players in the opposition all coming together to push to help save our high streets. Some extracts and stats are below but you can see the full press release on the website, or for media enquiries email raisethebar@kallaway.com or call 07827812813 or 07825285235.
- 54,638 businesses across England and Wales are currently unable to access the £25,000 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant [RHLG] according to the #RaiseTheBar campaign
- Discretionary fund’ to Local Authorities falls short of £748m to help businesses in need. #RaiseTheBar has calculated a total of £1.365bn is needed to support all 54,638 businesses in need
- High Street businesses face eight-week countdown until the due date for quarterly rent on 24 June, meaning action is needed now to allow more businesses access to the RHLG grant
- 86 MPs sign letter to the Chancellor calling for the rateable value threshold to be increased for the RHLG grant
- Rt. Hon. Dominic Raab MP has raised the #RaiseTheBar ask to the Treasury following local concern in Esher and Walton
The campaign has secured cross-party support including:
- 86 Conservative MPs wrote to the Chancellor on Friday 1 May, in an open letter calling for the business rates threshold to be increased
- The Shadow Chancellor Rt. Hon. Anneliese Dodds MP has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rt. Hon. Rishi Sunak MP, to bring to his attention the #RaiseTheBar campaign and the urgent need to raise the threshold above £51,000 due to businesses operating in high-cost areas
- Rt. Hon. Matt Hancock MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, committed to discuss the need to increase the business rates threshold with the Chancellor following a question from The Sheffield Star in the daily Government briefing on Monday 27 April
- Rt. Hon. Lucy Powell MP for Manchester Central called for the business rates threshold to be increased in Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday 22 April
- Rt. Hon. Dominic Raab MP for Esher and Walton has passed the request onto the Treasury following local concern