AAT public affairs and public policy activities (May 2019)

Every month AAT highlights some of the key public affairs and public policy activities undertaken on behalf of our 140,000 members.

Below you will find some key highlights for May 2019. 

If you would like any further information about any of these issues, please contact Phil Hall, AAT Head of Public Affairs & Public Policy, via Twitter or via email.  

AAT shortlisted for “Employer of the Year” award

AAT’s increasingly strong track record in tackling gender inequality and actively promoting diversity has been recognised by the prestigious “Women in Finance” awards who confirmed AAT has been shortlisted for their “Employer of the Year” award.

Our first internship programme in 2018, being signatories to the Women in Finance Charter, signing up to the Tech Talent Charter, promoting flexible working amongst AAT’s workforce and participating in the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion (ENEI) benchmarking survey are just some of the activities which demonstrate AAT’s increasing commitment to equality and diversity. 

The Women in Finance awards received approximately 800 entries so being shortlisted represents a great achievement. The Employer of the Year award is sponsored by Rolls Royce. The winner will be announced on 26 June 2019.

Overseas residential property investors

The Shadow Housing Minister and Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury sent a joint letter to the Chancellor highlighting concerns expressed in a recent AAT consultation response that warned of weaknesses with new government proposals to apply a Stamp Duty surcharge on overseas residential property investors.

The issue also secured national newspaper coverage in The Independent.

More AAT member recognition

Masthaven Bank have confirmed that they will now recognise AAT members for the purpose of signing an applicants’ mortgage certificate. Their change in policy is effective immediately. Another great result for AAT licensed members.

National Minimum Wage

The Labour Party announced they would scrap the minimum wage “youth” rates for 16 and 17-year-olds, with Jeremy Corbyn MP stating: “When Labour gets into power, we’ll abolish the Youth Rate of the minimum wage. Workers should be rewarded for their work, not their age. Equal rights for workers mean just that – irrespective of age, gender, nationality or race.”

Matthew Percival, head of employment for the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said the current "youth rates" help to reduce youth unemployment.

The Federation of Small Businesses went further and directly criticised the idea.

AAT members appear to be more closely aligned to the Labour Party policy; a 2017 member survey revealed that almost 70% would like to see government scrap the various age-related wage rates and instead adopt the Living Wage Foundation pay rates. These are currently a blanket rate of £9.00 across the UK (£10.55 in London).

AAT has been accredited as a Living Wage employer by the Living Wage Foundation since 2017.

Business rates

Last month, an international conference on business rates at leading law firm Eversheds in London included various references to AAT proposals on the issue.

AAT has recommended some immediate changes, annual revaluations for example, whilst detailing a long list of problems with the many favoured alternatives, rather than nailing its colours to any particular one. In the medium to longer term, a consultative, cross-party solution is essential.

AAT was also referenced by a witness in the Treasury Select Committee oral evidence session that took place last month. See the short video clip on the Parliament Live website.

AAT continues to be represented on the CBI Business Rates Working Group which also met last month.

Chartered Association of Business Schools

AAT Director of Strategy and Professional Standards Adam Harper has joined the Certified Management & Business Educator Professional Standards Board at the Chartered Association of Business Schools, further enhancing the reach and influence of AAT.

Chancellor and pay experts listen to AAT views on the National Minimum Wage

The Chancellor, Arin Dube of the University of Massachusetts, and a Low Pay Commissioner discussed the future of the National Minimum Wage at the Resolution Foundation last week. They were told about AAT members' views that almost 70% would like to see the five different wage rates scrapped and replaced with the Living Wage Foundation higher rates of £9.00 and £10.55 (London). Our concerns around enforcement were also raised, as was the fact that small businesses are not always as averse to wage increases as representative bodies suggest.

Parliamentary engagement

Engagement with a dozen MPs and Peers took place on issues from executive pay to the minimum wage.

Plastic packaging tax

The government consultation on a new plastic packaging tax closed on 12 May, with AAT’s response having gained significant interest from MPs and peers from all parties, and numerous environmental charities, as well as some interest from the environmental media.

Read the AAT response in full.

AAT consultations, calls for evidence and inquiry responses

AAT responded to a call for evidence on Scottish non-domestic business rates and an HM Treasury consultation on the effectiveness of social investment tax relief.

You can read both responses, together with hundreds of others dating back to 2014, on the AAT Public Policy responses page.

Other events, meetings and engagement

• Rob Alder and Phil Hall met with the managing director of LIBF to discuss AAT engagement with schools.
• AAT was represented at the Royal Society launch of a comprehensive report into the future of research and development in the UK.
• Attendance at the CBI SME Forum ensured AAT member views on a range of subjects were aired.
• The latest CBI Business Rates Working Group meeting afforded AAT an opportunity to reinforce its views on a range of problems with the current regime to members of the Treasury Select Committee inquiry team who were also present.
• AAT attended the launch event for the Centre for Policy Studies report calling for a Simple Consolidated Tax (SCT) for small businesses with turnover below £1m.
• Discussions in relation to social investment tax relief with the new director of the OTS, researchers for a large research project relating to the future of further education in the UK, and a fundraising agency also took place.