What steps will the Welsh Government take to support the retail sector to adopt modern payment systems further to the Association of Convenience Stores' Welsh Local Shop Report 2022 that found only 66 per cent of Welsh convenience stores have access to an EPOS machine?
We recognise that convenience stores need to evolve to compete among the more technologically advanced players on the market.
Finding a payment processing solution can be challenging and a convenience store will need to make the best choice when it comes to their payment processing service.
I plan to publish a Retail Strategy in March developed with and for the retail sector as a whole – its employers and workers. It will be informed by engagement with the sector, which includes representation from ACS, and will set out the short, medium and longer-term actions necessary for a successful, sustainable and resilient sector that delivers fair work.
In Wales we have a 100% rates relief holiday for the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors, which runs for the entire financial year. In the 2022-23 financial year, we will provide £116m of targeted non-domestic rates support to businesses in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors. Ratepayers will be eligible for 50% off their liability for the financial year. The amount of relief under the Welsh Government’s Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Rates Relief (RLHRR) scheme will be capped at £110,000 per business across Wales.
Under the latest package of emergency business support, retail, hospitality, leisure and tourism business in Wales, who pay Non Domestic Rates, will also be entitled to a payment of £2,000, £4,000 or £6,000 depending on their rateable value