Mohamed Dabo
2 min read
The UK retail industry, one of the country's largest private sector employers, has received formal recognition from the Prime Minister’s Office for its vital economic role.
However, the acknowledgement comes amid mounting frustration over continued job losses and a perceived lack of policy support.
Retail remains a cornerstone of the UK economy, employing over three million people.
Yet recent data shows the sector has lost more than ten times the number of jobs than the entire UK steel industry in recent years. Despite these losses, retail leaders argue that policymakers have shown limited urgency in addressing the trend.
Industry groups warn that without focused intervention, further redundancies and store closures are likely.
A letter from the Prime Minister’s Business Adviser to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) praised the sector’s role in serving communities, driving economic growth and supporting millions of workers.
While the message was welcomed, industry figures say it lacks a concrete plan to tackle structural challenges facing retail businesses, including rising operational costs, outdated business rates and pressures from digital competition.
The British Retail Consortium is urging the government to go beyond symbolic gestures and develop a clear retail employment strategy. The trade body is calling for reforms that could support long-term job creation and protect high street retailers from further decline.
The disparity between recognition and tangible action has fuelled criticism, especially given the government’s response to job losses in other sectors.
As high street footfall fluctuates and consumer behaviour evolves, retail employers and unions alike are demanding a more balanced policy approach—one that reflects retail’s scale and significance to the national economy.
"PM writes to retail leaders amid soaring job losses" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand.
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