Economy Minister Edwina Hart has appointed Cardiff Met Professor Brian Morgan to engage with businesses in Wales on how the Welsh Government could put proposed new powers on business rates to best use to support the economy.
Professor of Entrepreneurship Brian Morgan is also director of Cardiff School of Management’s Creative Leadership and Enterprise Centre and will liaise with business and other partners to seek their views on priorities for business rates policies following the announcement by the UK Government to fully devolve business rates to Wales.
Prof Morgan had previously been asked by the Minister to lead a task and finish group to review business rates policy in Wales.
He said: “I am very pleased to be appointed and am looking forward to really engaging with the business community in Wales now that business rates have devolved. This is a great opportunity for Wales to focus on making the business rates regime more focussed on enterprise and economic development.”
This work will commence immediately and run alongside technical discussions between the Welsh and UK Government on the mechanics of devolving business rates to Wales.
Mrs Hart said:
“The devolution of business rates provides us with a stronger lever to encourage economic growth. I want to make sure we make the most of this opportunity. To ensure we hit the ground running, I have asked Professor Brian Morgan to engage with the business community and other key stakeholders on their priorities and how we can use business rates to stimulate economic growth.”