• Former Wickes CEO to meet local retailers on the future of the high street and highlight Labour’s business rates cut

• Group to advise on future opportunities for the high street - including pop-up shops and start-up spaces - building on the success of Small Business Saturday

The former CEO of Wickes and Iceland, Bill Grimsey, is to launch a national tour in every region to look at the challenges facing the high street and spread the campaign for Labour’s business rates cut.

With 45 years of experience in retailing, Bill Grimsey recently published a review An Alternative Future for the High Street, spelling out a plan for boosting the high street and highlighting the challenges retailers face, including the impact of rising business rates on small and medium sized businesses.

Bill Grimsey will be part of a new Advisory Group which will advise the Labour Shadow Business (BIS) and Communities & Local Government (CLG) teams on how best to support high streets. He joins other experts in retail, high streets, and local business organisations such as BIDs (Business Improvement Districts).

Members of the Advisory Group will be looking at successful examples of high street rejuvenation and entrepreneurial activity across the country. They will also be giving advice to Labour Shadow Ministers on how the number of BIDs can be increased and be developed further.

BIDs are an initiative which Labour brought in, enabling these business-led organisations to be established across the country. The Group will give advice on how new ideas like pop-up shops, start-up spaces and local entrepreneurial networks can be encouraged and help high streets, and give advice on the challenges and opportunities facing high streets through the increasing impact of on-line retail and digital technologies.

Following the great success of the first Small Business Saturday on 7 December, the Advisory Group will also look at the many ideas that came out of the campaign. Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary, Chuka Umunna, helped establish Small Business Saturday and brought together a coalition to make it happen. Small Business Saturday saw extra takings in small and independent shops of nearly £500m, support from 50 small business organisations and 40 per cent of councils taking part with hundreds of events across the country.

Chuka Umunna MP, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary, said:

“There have been some bright spots for small businesses like the recent Small Business Saturday which was such a huge success, boosting spending in small and independent shops and highlighting what the high street can offer. And there are great examples of local action to support the high street, which I saw at first hand when I visited the Camden Collective in North London.

“But we also know many firms are facing the struggle of the cost of doing business, and none more so than the impact of business rates. I’m pleased that Bill Grimsey will be helping us talk to employers and employees about our business rates cut and to understand the challenges they face.

“Bill and other members of our Advisory Group will bring huge experience and help us listen to as many businesses as possible about what they need to grow and how we can support the high street.”

Hilary Benn MP, Labour’s Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary, said:

“Today one in seven of Britain’s shops is empty. The Government’s response has been woeful and local communities feel powerless as they see payday lenders and betting shops taking over and blighting their high streets.

“Communities want high streets to be part of a vibrant local economy, as well as places that offer jobs, services, convenience and bring local people together. The wealth of experience that Bill and the Advisory Group will bring to help our high streets recover and thrive will be invaluable.”

Bill Grimsey said:

“Small businesses are being heavily squeezed by big rises in business rates and this is pushing many over the edge. In producing my report I saw just how big an impact business rates have on high street shops. Businesses have been crying out for help for years and Labour’s announcement is a big step in the right direction.

“I’m pleased to be able to go around the country looking at how we can not only cut business rates but put in place the types of measures I’ve laid out to give small businesses the chance to grow, and also encourage entrepreneurs to set up high street ventures.”