{
  "id": 14364394,
  "title": "We’ll pull Neet support if Healey hikes taxes, warns boss of B&Q owner Kingfisher",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/well-pull-neet-support-if-healey-hikes-taxes-warns-boss-of-b-q-owner",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-14T03:33:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "City AM",
    "slug": "city-am",
    "url": "https://www.cityam.com/well-pull-neet-support-if-healey-hikes-taxes-warns-boss-of-bq-owner-kingfisher/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Thierry Garnier, CEO of Kingfisher, warned Chancellor John Healey that the company may need to stop supporting unemployed young people if Healey hikes taxes. In City AM, Garnier expressed concern that the government's decision could exacerbate the NEET crisis, which he and retailers are committed to addressing. The Kingfisher boss emphasized the need for retailers to be exempt from the highest bracket of business rates at the upcoming Budget, as they are among the highest employers of young people in the country. Garnier stressed that retailers want to tackle the NEET crisis through work experience placements at B&Q and Screwfix, but their ability to do so depends on the Chancellor's decisions in the Budget. He argued that retailers need a \"level playing field\" with online-only operators and urged the government to reform the outdated business rates system. Garnier's comments come as retailers are urging Healey to reduce taxes on businesses and support the government's growth strategy.",
  "summary": "The boss of B&Q-owner Kingfisher has warned John Healey that the FTSE 100 firm may have to pull its support for unemployed young people if the Chancellor hikes taxes. Thierry Garnier, the retail group’s chief executive, wrote in City AM that the Chancellor must exempt shops from the highest bracket of business rates at the [...]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}