Latest news with #GreeneKing
North Wales Live
a day ago
- Business
- North Wales Live
Pouring pints helping to fund grassroots sports clubs across the country
Pouring pints has been helping to be keep grassroots sports clubs alive, thanks to Greene King IPA's Proud to Pitch In scheme. The pub chain has donated more than £1 million since its launch in 2021 with more than 370 teams across the UK supported thanks to pints sold up and down the country. Clubs are able to apply for grants of up to £4,000 as Greene King look to tackle the rising challenges facing clubs. According to Sport England, one in four grassroots sports clubs is at risk of closure due to financial pressure and 42 per cent of adults from lower socio-economic groups are inactive. This is despite the huge benefits that come with being active, including boosts to physical and mental health and creating more connected communities. Gemma Woolnough-Smith, Marketing Manager for Greene King IPA, said: 'Grassroots sport is where champions start out, but more importantly, it's where communities come together, barriers break down, and lifelong memories are made. 'For the clubs receiving this support, it's a lifeline. From park pitches at local parks to paddling out at dawn, these vital teams are doing more than playing sport - they're actively changing lives and strengthening their communities. 'Reaching this £1 million milestone is a proud moment, and as we are now firmly in this year's summer of sport, we want to celebrate all of the sport clubs out there making a difference in their communities. 'The clubs supported by Proud to Pitch In are proof that when you invest in grassroots, you help raise the bar for everyone.' Greater London received the most support to power vital community projects, with 35 clubs funded and more than £93,000 invested, showing strong grassroots engagement in the capital. The West Midlands follows, 17 projects supported and nearly £47,000 awarded in funding. Devon and West Yorkshire also each saw 13 clubs supported, receiving over £40,000 and £37,000 to feed back into their local sports teams. Mark Shearer, Founder and CEO of ActionFunder, said: 'This milestone shows what real community support looks like. £1 million isn't just a big number. It's surfboards in the sea, ropes ready for international competitions, and vital sessions that give people the chance to train, belong and thrive. 'We've seen firsthand how Greene King IPA's Proud to Pitch In scheme transforms community projects on the ActionFunder platform. It has funded clubs focused on bringing people together, breaking down barriers and encouraging groups to stay active. Whether it's a veteran learning to surf or a teenager stepping onto a pitch for the first time, this is grant giving at its most powerful. 'Through ActionFunder, businesses like Greene King are transforming local communities. We're proud of our partnership to deliver vital funds to community groups across the UK.' The top 10 regions supported by Greene King IPA's Proud To Pitch In Rank Region No. of projects Total funding 1 Greater London 35 £93,254.79 2 West Midlands 17 £46,932.00 3 Devon 13 £40,906.00 4 West Yorkshire 13 £37,623.31 5 Great Manchester 12 £31,185.00 6 Nottinghamshire 10 £29,045.00 7 London (central) 9 £23,931.39 8 Lancashire 8 £22,985.00 9 Essex 8 £22,881.00 10 Tyne and Wear 6 £19,500.00
The Sun
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Wetherspoons boss blasts Rachel Reeves' ‘ridiculous' tax raid, warning more pubs will shut
THE boss of Wetherspoons has blasted a planned Government tax raid, warning it could lead to less pubs on the high street. Chairman of the major pub chain Tim Martin said a proposed shake-up of business rates by Rachel Reeves could lead to closures. 1 The Telegraph reported the Chancellor will announce a hike in rates for larger premises, which could include pubs, in her next Budget, to the cost of £1.7billion. Business rates are a tax paid by businesses on non-domestic properties like shops, restaurants and pubs. But Sir Martin has warned the hike would pile pressure on pub bosses who are already tackling higher costs than supermarkets who don't have to pay VAT on food sales while pubs do. Pub bosses were also hit with an increase in employer National Insurance contributions and the national minimum wage in April. Sir Tim said: "Higher business rates will exacerbate the already ferocious tax disadvantage that pubs are currently labouring under, inevitably resulting in increased home consumption and less pubs." The warning comes as the boss of Greene King calls for an overhaul of business rates for the sector as pub closures surge across the UK. Nick Mackenzie, boss of the 1,500-strong pub firm, said reduced property tax payments were needed to drive investment and new jobs after swallowing recent cost hikes. It comes days after figures from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) pointed towards a surge in pub closures due to heightened financial pressures. The body estimated that 378 pubs will close this year across England, Wales and Scotland after increased stress on the industry so far this year. It said this would amount to more than 5,600 direct job losses. Industry bosses have said easing business rates could help support some pub businesses currently at threat of future closure. Mr Mackenzie said the current system of business rates is 'unfair' on the sector, focusing on revenues rather than profitability, which has heavily diminished across pubs in recent years amid sharp increases in operating costs. 'Pubs are going to be around for the long term, but we need to address the unfairness in the system to allow them to flourish,' he said. 'It isn't fair that the sector has 0.4% of the rateable property but pay 2.1% of the bills. 'The sector is a massive employer and incredibly important for local communities, so we just feel it is important to underline how beneficial it is to tax pubs fairly." The Sun asked the Treasury to comment.
North Wales Chronicle
14-07-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Government needs to overhaul ‘unfair' business rates, says Greene King boss
Nick Mackenzie, boss of the 1,500-strong pub firm, said reduced property tax payments were needed to drive investment and new jobs after swallowing recent cost hikes. It comes days after figures from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) pointed towards a surge in pub closures due to heightened financial pressures. The body estimated that 378 pubs will close this year across England, Wales and Scotland after increased stress on the industry so far this year. It said this would amount to more than 5,600 direct job losses. Industry bosses have said easing business rates could help support some pub businesses currently at threat of future closure. Mr Mackenzie said the current system of business rates is 'unfair' on the sector, focusing on revenues rather than profitability, which has heavily diminished across pubs in recent years amid sharp increases in operating costs. 'Pubs are going to be around for the long term, but we need to address the unfairness in the system to allow them to flourish,' he said. 'It isn't fair that the sector has 0.4% of the rateable property but pay 2.1% of the bills. 'The sector is a massive employer and incredibly important for local communities, so we just feel it is important to underline how beneficial it is to tax pubs fairly.' Greene King is among pub firms to have said recent cost increases, such as the rise in National Insurance contributions and the higher national minimum wage, have caused them to pull back on some investment plans. Mr Mackenzie said Greene King would secure £13.7 million in annual savings to be invested in its pubs with reforms to business rates. The firm is asking Chancellor Rachel Reeves to introduce a specific, lower business rates multiplier for all pubs at the Autumn Budget, giving them a 20p discount on their current rate. It is also asking the Government to change how the Valuation Office Agency calculates the rateable value of a pub at the 2026 revaluation. The Labour Government has previously said it plans to reform business rates to 'create a fairer system'. It came as the company released its Growth on Tap report on reforming tax policy in the sector, which highlighted that its pubs are facing significant business rate increases due to a recent reduction in discounts for the sector. 'The Government has made growth its number one priority, and the Chancellor now has the opportunity to make changes that will immediately unlock millions of pounds to do just this,' Mr Mackenzie said. 'We will be able to go even further and faster with our investments – creating new jobs, refurbishing pubs and breathing life back into communities up and down the country.'
Rhyl Journal
14-07-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Government needs to overhaul ‘unfair' business rates, says Greene King boss
Nick Mackenzie, boss of the 1,500-strong pub firm, said reduced property tax payments were needed to drive investment and new jobs after swallowing recent cost hikes. It comes days after figures from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) pointed towards a surge in pub closures due to heightened financial pressures. The body estimated that 378 pubs will close this year across England, Wales and Scotland after increased stress on the industry so far this year. It said this would amount to more than 5,600 direct job losses. Industry bosses have said easing business rates could help support some pub businesses currently at threat of future closure. Mr Mackenzie said the current system of business rates is 'unfair' on the sector, focusing on revenues rather than profitability, which has heavily diminished across pubs in recent years amid sharp increases in operating costs. 'Pubs are going to be around for the long term, but we need to address the unfairness in the system to allow them to flourish,' he said. 'It isn't fair that the sector has 0.4% of the rateable property but pay 2.1% of the bills. 'The sector is a massive employer and incredibly important for local communities, so we just feel it is important to underline how beneficial it is to tax pubs fairly.' Greene King is among pub firms to have said recent cost increases, such as the rise in National Insurance contributions and the higher national minimum wage, have caused them to pull back on some investment plans. Mr Mackenzie said Greene King would secure £13.7 million in annual savings to be invested in its pubs with reforms to business rates. The firm is asking Chancellor Rachel Reeves to introduce a specific, lower business rates multiplier for all pubs at the Autumn Budget, giving them a 20p discount on their current rate. It is also asking the Government to change how the Valuation Office Agency calculates the rateable value of a pub at the 2026 revaluation. The Labour Government has previously said it plans to reform business rates to 'create a fairer system'. It came as the company released its Growth on Tap report on reforming tax policy in the sector, which highlighted that its pubs are facing significant business rate increases due to a recent reduction in discounts for the sector. 'The Government has made growth its number one priority, and the Chancellor now has the opportunity to make changes that will immediately unlock millions of pounds to do just this,' Mr Mackenzie said. 'We will be able to go even further and faster with our investments – creating new jobs, refurbishing pubs and breathing life back into communities up and down the country.'
Powys County Times
14-07-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Government needs to overhaul ‘unfair' business rates, says Greene King boss
The boss of pub giant Greene King has said the Government needs to overhaul business rates for the sector amid rising closures across the UK. Nick Mackenzie, boss of the 1,500-strong pub firm, said reduced property tax payments were needed to drive investment and new jobs after swallowing recent cost hikes. It comes days after figures from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) pointed towards a surge in pub closures due to heightened financial pressures. The body estimated that 378 pubs will close this year across England, Wales and Scotland after increased stress on the industry so far this year. It said this would amount to more than 5,600 direct job losses. Industry bosses have said easing business rates could help support some pub businesses currently at threat of future closure. Mr Mackenzie said the current system of business rates is 'unfair' on the sector, focusing on revenues rather than profitability, which has heavily diminished across pubs in recent years amid sharp increases in operating costs. 'Pubs are going to be around for the long term, but we need to address the unfairness in the system to allow them to flourish,' he said. 'It isn't fair that the sector has 0.4% of the rateable property but pay 2.1% of the bills. 'The sector is a massive employer and incredibly important for local communities, so we just feel it is important to underline how beneficial it is to tax pubs fairly.' Greene King is among pub firms to have said recent cost increases, such as the rise in National Insurance contributions and the higher national minimum wage, have caused them to pull back on some investment plans. Mr Mackenzie said Greene King would secure £13.7 million in annual savings to be invested in its pubs with reforms to business rates. The firm is asking Chancellor Rachel Reeves to introduce a specific, lower business rates multiplier for all pubs at the Autumn Budget, giving them a 20p discount on their current rate. It is also asking the Government to change how the Valuation Office Agency calculates the rateable value of a pub at the 2026 revaluation. The Labour Government has previously said it plans to reform business rates to 'create a fairer system'. It came as the company released its Growth on Tap report on reforming tax policy in the sector, which highlighted that its pubs are facing significant business rate increases due to a recent reduction in discounts for the sector. 'The Government has made growth its number one priority, and the Chancellor now has the opportunity to make changes that will immediately unlock millions of pounds to do just this,' Mr Mackenzie said. 'We will be able to go even further and faster with our investments – creating new jobs, refurbishing pubs and breathing life back into communities up and down the country.'
