{
  "id": 14371319,
  "title": "B&Q and Screwfix CEO: Healey must cut business rates",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/b-q-and-screwfix-ceo-healey-must-cut-business-rates",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-14T04:56:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "City AM",
    "slug": "city-am",
    "url": "https://www.cityam.com/bq-and-screwfix-ceo-healey-must-cut-business-rates/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Thierry Garnier, CEO of Kingfisher, which includes B&Q and Screwfix, argues that reforming business rates could significantly aid retailers in continuing to invest and create jobs across the UK. With the recent introduction of a new business rates multiplier, large shops face higher bills, which contradicts the government's goal of delivering growth visible in local communities. The 20% reduction in business rates for certain venues has demonstrated the positive impact this change can have on local businesses. Garnier suggests that applying the same principle to other high streets and retail parks would level the playing field between traditional shops and online-only retailers. He emphasizes that the government has the opportunity to foster growth now, given the recent rise in costs, such as employment, packaging, and energy expenses. By reforming business rates, the Chancellor can unlock investment, protect local jobs, and maintain the high streets as the heart of UK communities.",
  "summary": "Of all the levers available, reforming business rates presents the single biggest opportunity for the Chancellor to help retailers keep investing, says Thierry Garnier If the Prime Minister wants to deliver growth in every postcode, he can look at the businesses that are already present in every community. Retailers employ 2.75m people across the country [...]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "City AM",
        "title": "Exclusive: Healey looks to lower business costs of hiring Neets",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/exclusive-healey-looks-to-lower-business-costs-of-hiring-neets",
        "published": "2026-10-14T03:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}