Business Rates is now a strategic issue at Board level: companies are challenging the traditional approach and demanding greater urgency and responsiveness as an integral part of driving down their costs. The VOA is embarking on change to the appeal system that makes achieving refunds harder and takes longer.
A new approach is needed. Newsteer Business Rates has been set up to challenge established practice and work as part of the client team:
- Improve Board oversight and bring business rates into the centre of the cost reduction process.
- Improve speed by getting rates right first time.
- Reduce cost and improve responsiveness through a new in-house/external delivery model.
- Working with retained external providers – not replacing them
- Advice on procurement
The team is led by Brian Sloggett who has over 30 years’ experience and led the pioneering prior agreement approach whilst leading GL Hearn.
Clients include John Lewis, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury and Waitrose