Our owner and founder has challenged politicians to sign up to six pledges to help businesses and the solid fuel industry.

Writing in his regular Soot’s You column in Fireplace Specialist Magazine, David outlined the key areas where he believes government could help.

Priority #1 – Launch A Stove Scrappage Scheme

This is a popular scheme the world over, yet our politicians remain silent on it. In America, individuals get a $2,000 tax credit if they replace their older appliance with a newer one. Just imagine the boost it would give our stove manufacturers and showrooms. Granted, the industry could do it alone, but it would need pretty much all the major players to sign up…

Priority #2 – No VAT on Wood Fuels

Despite what Greta and her mates would have you believe, wood is a renewable energy source. Therefore, its use should be encouraged. One way that could be done is by scrapping VAT (currently at 5%) on wood-based fuels and other renewables. A great signal towards environmentalism while at the same time cutting costs for customers.

Priority #3 – Overhaul Building Regulations

Approved Document J is now well over a decade old. Parts of it are becoming increasingly outdated and in some cases irrelevant. We need a standards framework which fits our modern industry. So much has happened since it was amended back in 2013. I hear a rewrite has been held up – time to crack on with it!

Priority #4 – Cut Taxes For New Jobs

I could weep when I think how many jobs we as a business could have created with all the money we’ve instead been forced to send to the taxman. Governments tend to think they know how to create jobs better than businesses. They’re wrong. Let businesses retain more of their profits by setting up a scheme where, for every new job, you get to claw back some of your tax outlay.

Priority #5 – More Vocational & Business Lessons in School

Our education system is wholly set up to fail a large percentage of our young people. While some relish the opportunity to dissect An Inspector Calls or Romeo and Juliet, others are left on the scrapheap. This is a waste of talent. It’s time to have a proper education system which showcases all potential career routes for youngsters – including trades work and entrepreneurship.

Priority #6 –  A Level Playing Field

The VAT threhsold has not kept pace with inflation. Even raising the amount from to £90,000 in April is not enough to offset the amount of businesses affected. Personally, I think the threshold should be around £500,000 and increasing each year with inflation. This would give one-man bands and micro businesses the financial ability to invest and employ more people, thereby turbocharging our lacklustre economy. 

Read David’s full column at https://fireplacespecialistmagazine.co.uk/3dissue/fireplace-issue-8/