A new group established to help Scotland’s retail sector as it
recovers from the pandemic has discussed soaring energy costs and
the impact of Brexit.
At its first meeting, the Retail Industry Leadership Group (RILG)
also considered how to deliver the Scottish Government’s Retail
Strategy and began drafting priorities to help businesses grow.
The Group is co-chaired by the Minister for Public Finance,
Planning and Community Wealth and the Chief Operating Officer
of the John Lewis Partnership, Andrew Murphy. It comprises senior
business representatives, trades unions and industry groups.
It will work with the Scottish Government to help the retail
sector meet current and longer term challenges while becoming
stronger and more resilient. Fair Work and achieving Net Zero
goals will underpin the group’s work.
Mr Arthur said:
“This first meeting of the Retail Industry Leadership Group was
timely given the cost crisis we are facing and allowed us to
learn more about the impact on retail businesses, staff and
customers. Implementing the Retail Strategy can help the sector
seize opportunities, deal with longer term trends, and recover
from immediate challenges.
“There is no single solution to helping retailers so, as we
approach a challenging winter, it is essential the response from
government at every level happens at speed, to address the nature
and magnitude of the emergency. We support calls from businesses
for measures related to energy prices, VAT reduction, staff
shortages and handling business loans - direct support which
falls within the reserved responsibilities of the UK Government.”
Co-chair and Chief Operating Officer of the John Lewis
Partnership, Andrew Murphy said:
"I was encouraged by the positive and collaborative nature
of our discussion. Given the scale and nature of the collective
challenges we are all facing, this is both timely and vital.
“There was a shared concern around the impact inflation is having
on suppliers, employees, customers and our communities through
the current cost of living crisis. It is clear that both
retailers and the Scottish Government continue to work hard to
find ways to provide more support where they can.
"I'm excited by the evident enthusiasm of the Leadership Group to
drive forward the implementation of the Retail Strategy. Fair
Work, the skills agenda and the importance of retail in
delivering high quality town and city centres are uppermost in
our minds as we look ahead to the next few months."
Background
The Scottish Government Resilience committee (SGoRR) is meeting
weekly to consider the cost crisis. The action being taken by the
Scottish Government was set out by the First Minister’s statement
on 11 August (insert link).
Establishing an Industry Leadership Group was a key action in the
Scottish Government’s Retail Strategy to promote recovery. Read
more on Getting the Right Change: A
Retail Strategy for Scotland.
The Group will also focus on encouraging retail businesses to
demonstrate their commitment to Fair Work principles; harnessing
opportunities in the National Strategy for Economic
Transformation that will directly support the retail sector;
making the sector responsive to changing consumer behaviours;
overseeing development of a Skills Audit and Action Plan; and
developing a Just Transition Plan to guide retail towards Net
Zero.
