The Client
One of the largest independent garden centres in the UK, trading for over 40 years with a broad array of products and services, with a range of concessions on the site, as well as soft play, two eateries, a farm shop and pets and aquatics offers.
Service
Business Rates
Sector
Garden Centres
The Saving
Year
Introduction
Established in 1982 Hollybush is a family owned garden centre occupying a 20 acre site with a vast undercover area including a café, licensed restaurant and shopping village.
The Brief
Alongside many other garden centres in the UK, the client is experiencing high rateable valuations, due to the large areas occupied and being incorrectly assessed. A number of garden centres occupy spaces that are a mixture of outdoor (covered and uncovered), unheated and heated, and directly or indirectly operated. This leads to much confusion and in need of detailed assessment and appeal.
The Outcome
Working with our partners to assess the rateable valuation, we’ve identified an incorrect non-domestic debit on the calculations used. Having appealed this, we immediately gained an adjustment of over £100,000!
We are now working on the next phase to carry out a more detailed site appraisal to determine what further lowering in valuation we can achieve to drive out further savings.
We have also instigated a review and retrospective claim of prior year charges to generate rebates for the client.
The Conclusion
The process was dealt with seamlessly for the client, with little distraction for them from running their business. The transition to our management now also ensures the client will no longer need to worry about incorrect valuations in the future and leads to ongoing savings.
Savings / Year
To date, we’ve achieved a rebate of £110,000 in the last ratings year of 2023-24, and fully expect to receive further rebates for prior years, which are now into appeal.
”Salim’s background in garden centres meant he had a great deal of experience on what the right levels of Rating Valuation should be. He quickly identified that our assessment was over-stated leading to charges which were far too high. He organised an appeal and re-assessment which has led to a saving of over £100,000, which was fantastic news! He’s now working on further assessments to see if more savings can be achieved
Kate SeagroveDirector Hollybush Nurseries Limited
Review
After initial enquiry, we will arrange one of our service managers to access and examine your current contracts and costs.
Identify Savings
We will return to you with all our findings and cost savings suggestions and guidelines for you to digest in a quote format.
Join Advantage
If you are happy with our findings, we will then take control of all the administration ensuring a smooth transition and switch over.
Ongoing Support
Our team will monitor your services during the agreed fixed term. Keeping all cost savings at the centre of what they do.
Get Started
Find out what you could save
Remember, there is no charge for our services and 100% of all savings achieved are passed directly to you, so what have you got to lose?