UK expands leisure business-rates relief, raises National Living Wage
The UK government expanded business-rates relief for qualifying retail, hospitality and leisure properties in England, and set a two-year real-terms freeze for others in those sectors. The National Living Wage will rise 3.9% to £13.21 an hour from April 2027; ukactive welcomed recognition of gyms but said more support was needed on staffing, energy and business rates.
In its 28 October Budget, the UK government expanded rate relief for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties in England.1,3,4
It raised the Small Business Rates Relief threshold for those businesses from £12,000 to £18,000 and said rates for others in those sectors would be frozen in real terms for two years.1
The National Living Wage will rise 3.9% to £13.21 an hour from 1 April 2027.2
ukactive welcomed the Budget’s recognition of gyms but said it lacked support on staffing costs and energy bills, and that more work was needed on business rates.3
