Fashion Roundtable Calls On Our Sector to seek More Support From The UK Government.
Two key issues highlighted here severely impact the business, reputation and the future of our fashion industry in a competitive global market. In a challenging time, we at Fashion Roundtable urge the Government to value all of our incredible talents across the whole of the creative industries and our retailers who have already faced one of the most challenging years and need our support if they are to survive post-pandemic. The first is an anomaly in the way film shoots are being supported with critical worker status versus fashion shoots, when the reality is the work is almost entirely the same. The second is the UK Government’s decision to end the VAT Retail Export Scheme next month, which is cost the economy thousands of jobs, billions in GDP and severely damage the UK fashion industry’s global reputation, as well as impacting hospitality and tourism.
The Department for Transport recently announced that domestic and international performing arts professionals and TV production staff will not need to self-isolate upon arrival into the UK, to ensure “that industries which require specific, high talent individuals who rely on international connections can continue to complete their work.” We welcome this, but ask why are fashion creatives not included in these exemptions? Photographers, stylists, make up artists (and so on) perform virtually identical roles and the sector also relies heavily on international talent. The UK fashion industry makes over 10 times what film does for the UK economy, but this is severely at risk if we are not operating on a level playing field.
We have asked the Government to address this issue and support both the fashion industry and the film industry with this exemption and are waiting for a comprehensive response.
Email your MP and call on the Government to consider parity between fashion creatives and performing arts professionals and TV production staff, using our email template here.
As the secretariat for The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Textiles & Fashion, chaired by Dr Lisa Cameron MP, we hosted an event last week on the "Future of Fashion Retail". The speakers, from the British Retail Consortium to the Association of International Retail, all highlighted one thing: withdrawing the VAT Retail Export Scheme would be devastating for retail and workers at a time when the sector is trying to recover from the pandemic.
Will you join the campaign against the Government's decision and send a letter to your MP today?
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