HTA sets out cost pressures to chancellor ahead of Spring Forecast
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has called for urgent action to support UK environmental horticulture in a letter to the chancellor of exchequer, Rachel Reeves.
The letter outlines the cost pressures mounting on growers, retailers, landscapers and suppliers as well as practical guidance for the government to restore confidence and unlock growth.
In a recent Business Barometer survey conducted by the HTA, 54% of member businesses were found to finished Q4 behind their budget profit position.
The HTA also predicts that the whole of the gardening industry may face further cost pressures over the next year.
Fran Barnes, chief executive of the HTA says:
“The Spring Forecast is an opportunity for the Government to act decisively. By addressing energy relief, reforming business rates and aligning EPR policy, the Government can send a clear signal that it backs this £38 billion sector and the 722,000 jobs it supports. We are also encouraging our members to write to their MPs about the cost of doing business so the sector’s voice is heard at all levels of Government.”
Specific requests include the extention of cost relief to horticultural businesses and the revision of SIC code for horticulture. It also asks to implement a more responsive, streamlined business rates system, as well as aligning times on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Simpler Recycling policy, allowing non-black polypropylene plastic pots to be classed as green under the Government Recycling Assessment Methodology (RAM).