BWF urges government to support UK joinery manufacturing in response to Business Rates Review

BWF has responded to the review of business rates in England by urging government to encourage investment and innovation by excluding plant and machinery from rateable values and supporting the sustainable use of waste material.

The consultation on business rates in England was drawn up in response to concerns from some business ratepayers that the system is in need of reform to make it fit for a 21st century economy.

BWF Policy Executive Matt Mahony commented:

“Government focus on business rates tends to be on the retail industry and this sector will no doubt put in a strong response to the consultation. However, the UK wood products manufacturing sector should not be overlooked as it is a vital part of UK industry, adding £3.8 billion to the UK economy every year and bringing skilled jobs to both rural and urban areas.

“Growth in the UK joinery industry will be severely hindered without additional investment in new capacity here, with UK manufacturing share likely to decline further as the sector becomes more vulnerable to imports.

“This is why BWF supports the view of the Construction Products Association that the government can increase investment, jobs and innovation within the UK through a fairer business rate system that sees an exclusion of plant and machinery from nom-domestic property rateable values but with no exclusions of plant and machinery in regulated industry sectors such as energy and water.

“In the interests of energy sustainability and good business practice, business rates assessments should also provide a tool to support a more sustainable manufacturing industry in the long term, for example through encouraging the use of equipment to generate heat and/or  power from waste material such as biomass.”

View our Question of the Week on whether you can get your business rates lowered: www.bwf.org.uk/news/question-of-the-week/is-there-a-way-for-me-to-get-my-business-rates-lowered