The Chancellor’s Budget, unveiled on 19 March has continued to come under sharp criticism. 

Performing Artistes, one of the event industry’s longest-established public speaker agencies, released a statement from managing director JJ Jackson, saying that the absence of lower business rates in the Budget was a ‘glaring omission.’

“More should have been done to tackle prohibitive business rates and planning,” Jackson said. “Small businesses are the lifeblood of many towns and cities across Britain, with their employees spending money locally and generally creating buzz.”

Jackson pointed to the ‘extortionate’ cost of renting, in particular in London, as a serious consideration for events companies across the UK, like Performing Artistes. Jackson’s agency has provided high-profile speakers to national and international events for 22 years.

Although the Government has promised to introduce business rate reform, business commentators speculate that this won’t be put into place before 2017.

“Not addressing business rates was a glaring omission in the Budget,” Jackson said. “It’s a real shame that our Government doesn’t appear to be more favourably disposed towards the UK events sector, whose expertise is recognised worldwide and which generates billions of pounds for the British economy every year.

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Posted on: 21/3/14