IPSWICH THINGS TO DO

Business Rates Roundtable with Jack Abbott MP

The Suffolk Chamber of Commerce at University of Suffolk, Ipswich

Information - Business Rates Roundtable with Jack Abbott MP

How should Business Rates really work for local businesses?
For decades, the limitations, complexities and unfairnesses of the Business Rates system have come into sharper perspective, especially for smaller enterprises and specific sectors. Recent Suffolk Chamber of Commerce research suggests that at least a third of firms consider Business Rates to be a serious ongoing concern to the future success of their operations.
Over that time, manifesto promises have been made by a range of incoming Governments to conduct fundamental reforms and/or to consider alternative ways of taxing businesses, but only fairly marginal adjustments have been made as a result.
As a point of principle, Suffolk Chamber believes that the Government should opt for a system based on outputs and not inputs: in other words, a sales or turnover tax.

Join us for an engaging roundtable discussion
This is why we are delighted to invite you to a Chatham House Rule discussion with Jack Abbott, the MP for Ipswich.

Jack wants to listen to the first-hand accounts of business from a range of sectors as to the impact of Business Rates on their operations and how these might be best addressed. Jack intends to feedback the overall insights from this engagement directly to HM Treasury – so this is an excellent opportunity to help shape this Government’s ongoing approach to Business Rates and their possible replacements.

What to expect

• An in-person, confidential roundtable discussion encouraging open an honest conversation
• The opportunity to share real-world experiences of Business Rates
• Open discussion on challenges, impacts and possible alternatives
• Direct engagement with your local MP

Who should attend?

• Businesses of all sizes occupying rateable (non-domestic) premises
• Retail, hospitality, leisure, manufacturing and property-based sectors
• Business owners concerned about rising fixed costs and long-term viability
• Members who want their experiences reflected in future Government thinking