On Your Corner, In Your Corner
Standing shoulder to shoulder with our partners on business rates
By Katie Secretan, Managing Director, Co-op Wholesale
Britain’s high streets are at a crossroads. New Co-op research reveals that without urgent reform to business rates, 60,000 small shops and 150,000 jobs could disappear.
This isn’t just a statistic - its livelihoods, community identity and the everyday spaces where people come together, day in and day out. Three-quarters of people say local shops and businesses are vital to community wellbeing, and many worry their high street is in decline.
That’s why Co-op has launched ‘On Your Corner, In Your Corner’ - a campaign urging Government to deliver the maximum levels of business rates relief and safeguard the future of our high streets.
As part of the Co-op Group, we at Co-op Wholesale are proud to stand firmly behind this campaign. Our role is unique - supporting over 4,000 independent convenience stores, often trading right at the heart of their communities.
We see first-hand the pressures our partners face, from rising costs to changing shopping patterns. But we also see the incredible value they bring - not just as retailers, but as community champions.
These stories bring to life what the research shows, thriving local shops are about belonging and connection, not just economics.
Together with our partners, we’re amplifying the call for reform because we know what’s at stake. Business rates reform isn’t just a technical issue - it’s about protecting the corner shops, parades and precincts that are the backbone of our towns and cities.
We’re urging Government to commit to the maximum levels of relief in the Autumn Budget and deliver quickly so that independent retailers have the certainty they need to survive and thrive.
At Co-op Wholesale, we’ll continue to champion our partners’ voices - making sure they’re heard in this debate.
Read Co-op's full media release here: Co-op Warns 60,000 Small Shops and 150,000 Jobs at Risk Without Urgent Business Rates Relief - Co-op
For advice on how to contact your local MP, visit the ACS website here: https://www.acs.org.uk/campaigns
It’s about protecting the corner shops, parades and precincts that are the backbone of our towns and cities.
