Will the government U-turn on the VAT Retail Export Scheme?

Image shows Sylvie Freund-Pickavance discussing the impacts of the removal of the UK VAT Retail Export Scheme on the British economy. Credit: Steve Watson.

Last week, we hosted two roundtables for the fashion and textiles sector. The first, was with Shadow Minister for Creative Industries and Digital, Sir Chris Bryant where industry leaders outlined the opportunities and challenges faced by the British fashion sector. 

The roundtable was preceded by a tour of the Design Museum’s ‘REBEL: 30 Years of London Fashion’ exhibition by Guest Curator Sarah Mower MBE. This allowed for the context of how politics and fashion could be a power play for the UK when combined effectively.

The meeting provided an opportunity for stakeholders within the sector to be heard and provided a strong overview of the current landscape of the British fashion sector. From opportunities for international business; British made and owned fashion procurement and onshoring opportunities; end-of-life strategies; barriers and opportunities for NEW GEN as well as existing talent within the UK and global markets; and a means for creative education to recentre sustainability within the curriculum. The EU has 16 pieces of legislation already in place for the fashion and textiles sector and it was noted that the UK has an opportunity to align and develop a sector which can operate in the local and global market with ease. 

Shadow Minister for Creative Industries and Digital, Sir Chris Bryant said: 

“The UK has a phenomenal set of talented individuals and international fashion brands that mean we can excel in a way no other country can. We bring verve, passion, edge and commercial savvy to the table. There are big challenges for the industry and Labour is determined to work with industry to make sure no talent is wasted.”

Image shows Kate Hills and Tamara Cincik in the House of Lords.

The second roundtable was facilitated with the support of Make it British, as well as Baroness Jane Bonham-Carter – the Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson for Culture Media and Sport, as well as the Liberal Democrat Creative Network and the Liberal Democrat DCMS Parliamentary Group in the House of Lords.

The purpose of the roundtable was to discuss the main challenges that post-Brexit agreements were posing to the British fashion sector, providing an opportunity for the top-line issues of Brexit to be heard. 

With the majority of the UK manufacturing sector made up of SMEs, the roundtable heard that Brexit has compounded a skills shortage. Issues of freedom of movement in both goods as well as talent as well as a massive impact to the luxury sector, tourism and hospitality due to the removal of the UK VAT Retail Export Scheme. 

Baroness Jane Bonham-Carter the Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson for Culture Media and Sport said:

“Yesterday’s presentation of the serious issues facing the Fashion Industry highlighted not only the self-inflicted damage caused by post Brexit regulations but also a serious growing skills shortage. The Liberal Democrats will redouble efforts to highlight ways that the Government could undo some of the damage done.”

A focus on reinstating the VAT Retail Export Scheme

One of the key findings from both roundtables, was that the unilateral decisions by the UK Government to end the lucrative VAT Retail Export Scheme, which Sylvie Freund-Pickavance cited as having the potential to generate £10bn in terms of sales, hospitality and tourism, was a missed opportunity. This is something that Fashion Roundtable have been consistently lobbying on.

The decision to scrap the VAT Retail Export Scheme and tax-free shopping concession was a governmental decision that was made in 2020. The decision to reinstate the scheme was once again dropped in 2022 by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

This decision has cost many British brands and retailers who rely on affluent international visitors and was a factor in Mulberry’s decision to close its iconic Bond Street store.

This week, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has ordered the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to review the costings of these policies which will be published alongside the Spring Budget on the 6th March.

We’d love to hear what you think. Have your say below.

In conversation with Clare Press at Bath Spa University

Image shows Clare Press in a pink dress, sitting at a table.

Some of you may know Clare Press as the bestselling author of the Wardrobe Crisis, or the presenter of the much-loved podcast of the same name. Others remember her as the first ever VOGUE Sustainability Editor for Vogue Australia back in 2018. To us, Clare is best-known as our vibrant and seriously knowledgeable Global Sustainability Expert.

This January, her latest book, Wear Next, Fashioning the Future has finally hit UK book stores and what a book it is!

To celebrate we are hosting Clare’s UK book launch at the Conduit later this month which is open to members.

We are also hosting an evening with Clare in collaboration with the National Centre for Fashion and Sustainability at Bath Spa University on Tuesday 20th February at 5:30pm.

Clare will be interviewed on stage about her new book by Professor Tamara Cincik. This will be followed by an audience Q&A, book signing and drinks and snacks.

Spaces are free but limited, so please book a place by purchasing a free ticket below.

Loewe announces its first major exhibition ‘Crafted World’ in Shanghai

Credit: LOEWE

The house’s first major exhibition, Crafted World, will take place at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre. Spanning 178 years of creativity and innovation, the immersive exhibition aims to celebrate the house’s rich history, Spanish heritage and commitments to the handmade. The narrative will look thematically at the joy of making things by hand, the house’s community of craftspeople and collaborators globally and a behind-the-scenes look at those working to bring LOEWE’S iconic pieces to life.

The exhibition will run from 22 March to 5 May 2024, before travelling worldwide. This is open to the public and entrance is free.

DAZED launches new social media app with creative networking at its core

Credit: Dazed

This week, a new free app ‘Dazed Club’ built by independent youth culture publisher Dazed Media, was launched for users all over the world to share their creative work with each other and find and connect with creative collaborators for new opportunities and projects. 

Users are able to connect and collaborate by publishing project briefs, uploading films and imagery. They can also explore and join groups and ask questions and receive advice from experts working across the creative industry based all over the world.

Jefferson Hack, CEO and Co-founder of Dazed Media said:

“The Dazed Club app is based on two principles - to jumpstart creative careers and to matchmake creatives all over the world. Dazed Club is going to shape a new creative future for global youth. Existing creative networking apps are rigged against creative development so we have decided to build one that puts their needs and interests at the heart, empowering and equipping the next generation to make their mark in the creative industry globally.”

The UK plans to ratify the UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage

Photo by Malcolm Lightbody on Unsplash. Image shows. a blacksmith at work.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has announced that it is planning to ratify the 2003 UNESCO Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, bringing it in line with the 182 other UNESCO member states already ratified.

We began advocating for this development, after we interviewed Daniel Carpenter, the Executive Director of Heritage Crafts for our podcast on the UK’s endangered heritage and crafts as part of their Red List and the benefits of valuing these for our collective wellbeing.

DCMS has since launched a public consultation on the initial stages of implementation, focusing on the defining and identifying intangible cultural heritage in the UK.

Daniel Carpenter said:

"For the first time, living heritage knowledge, practices and skills will have official status alongside buildings, monuments and museum collections, contributing to new opportunities for placemaking, tourism and community identity, as well as a statutory responsibility on the UK to safeguard the most at-risk examples."

There’s still time to have your say.

Respond online here

Email: IntangibleCulturalHeritage@dcms.gov.uk

EFRA Committee to scrutinise the UK’s Free Trade Agreements, ongoing FTA negotiations, and recent accession to the CPTPP

Photo by Chris Ensminger on Unsplash. Image shows farming in progress.

Today at 2:30pm, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee will hold the second session of its ‘UK trade policy: food and agriculture’ inquiry, which will next week see MPs scrutinise the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) the UK has signed since leaving the EU. 

The cross-party Committee will take evidence from academics and sector experts, who will be asked for their reflections on the Government’s approach to the trade agreements it is currently pursuing.