About the Retail Jobs Alliance

The Retail Jobs Alliance (RJA) includes major retailers such as Asda, Kingfisher, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Primark, Sainsbury’s, and Tesco - who between them employ nearly 1 million people across the UK.

The RJA will champion the critical role that retail plays in communities, particularly in providing jobs and services in economically disadvantaged areas.

The group has been formed specifically to champion a fairer business rates system that enables shops of all sizes to grow. The RJA believes that the higher business rates multiplier threshold proposed in the Budget will undermine future retail investment and contradict the government’s own commitment to “level the playing field between high street and online retailers."

The industry makes up 5% of UK GDP, providing 3m direct jobs and 2.7m more in the supply chain.
Retail paid £33bn in tax in 2023 (7.4% of all business taxes) - 1.5x greater than the industry's share of the overall economy.
In 23/24, the retail sector paid 21% of UK business rates, this is higher than any other sector.
According to BRC estimates, recent government measures will create an estimated £7bn in new costs for retailers in 2025.