IT’S exactly a month since Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister. In the days since he has sought to convey a rather dull impression of solidity and surefootedness, presumably in an attempt to draw what he might argue is a contrast with recent predecessors.

That said, the last few years of Covid and costs crunch have been a time of profound upheaval so a period of predictability wouldn’t go amiss. To provide early confidence over future policymaking Sir Keir’s administration has hit the ground running on tackling many of the urgent challenges facing the nation.

No surprise retail is helping to shift dial on diversity and inclusion

The sheer scope of legislation unveiled in the King’s Speech was startling. It ranged from consequential announcements on energy infrastructure, housing and planning to parliamentary reform. Many of the 40 bills will be of direct relevance to retail.

The Budget Responsibility Bill with its proposed “fiscal lock” holds out the promise a more stable approach to fiscal policy. If this results in lower interest rates, that would be good news for consumer spending and retailers looking to invest.

Retailers are celebrating the intended Crime and Policing Bill with its promise of new legal protections for shopworkers from assault and violence. This should bring England and Wales more into line with Scotland where specific legal protections for store colleagues have been in place for three years.

Meanwhile, there are big plans to reform industrial relations and workforce practices through an expansive Employment Rights Bill. Early indications suggest this will scrap age bands to ensure everyone on the statutory minimum wage is paid the same. There will be a higher minimum wage and “fair pay agreements” may be extended to parts of the private sector.

Supporting everyday economy sectors like retail is good politics

Retail is the country’s largest private sector employer. It’s proud of its record in creating jobs, bringing people into work and setting them on a career path, and the wage-related benefits it offers. Retail has increased pay at a faster rate than the economy as a whole over recent years. So it’s encouraging ministers have promised detailed consultation on the specifics. While the vast majority of retailers pay above statutory minimums and make no use of age banding, overall the bill does have the potential to push up retailers’ cost base in what remains a tough trading environment.

Plans for an industrial strategy council sound sensible. How this relates to everyday sectors of the economy like retail and dovetails with the existing Scottish Government retail strategy remains to be seen.

The pledge of a more collaborative approach between the UK and devolved administrations is positive. This should hopefully see a more consistent approach on things like the circular economy and deposit return scheme, minimising confusion for shoppers and for retailers who have to implement such initiatives.

Tackling crime demands attention and urgent action

Ministers are to make good on their pledge to reform the apprenticeship levy. It will be rebranded as a growth and skills levy and firms in England will be able to spend the receipts from the levy on a wider range of training for staff. That’s great for firms in England. However, here in Scotland the levy seems set to remain little more than a tax on employment, hampering retail investment in skills. Unlike counterparts down south, Scottish retailers are unable to spend any of the £15 million they stump up annually for the levy. As such the reforms risk falling woefully short.

Despite the many positives there was little in the King’s Speech which will provide early relief from the continuing costs crunch facing retailers. Indeed, several bills will likely add to the cumulative burden of paperwork and compliance, and come on top of the myriad regulatory measures being pursued by the Holyrood administration. Hopefully, the costs burden can be addressed by the new Chancellor in her first Budget this autumn, alongside measures to boost retail sales such as by reinstating tax free shopping.

New First Minister has opportunity to work with business community

Ultimately, to actually deliver on all of these issues and generate a more buoyant economy, the new government will need to forge a partnership with retail. We stand ready to be a constructive partner, helping leverage the scale and reach of retail to deliver the policy goals that will benefit our economy and communities. There is little time to dawdle.

David Lonsdale is director of the Scottish Retail Consortium