{"id":39865,"date":"2025-07-22T09:32:08","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T09:32:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/?post_type=knowledge&#038;p=39865"},"modified":"2025-07-22T09:34:44","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T09:34:44","slug":"uk-high-streets-at-risk-of-dying-out","status":"publish","type":"knowledge","link":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/retail\/uk-high-streets-at-risk-of-dying-out\/","title":{"rendered":"UK high streets at risk of dying out, small business owners warn"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Britain\u2019s high street businesses are struggling to survive in today\u2019s economic climate, according to new research from Simply Business.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reduced consumer spending, inflation, and the increasing cost of staff \u2013 the financial pressure of running a high street business has put many on a cliff edge.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/resources\/sme-insights-report\/\">2025 SME Insights Report<\/a> found over half (63 per cent) of small businesses believe the high street as we know it will be obsolete in the next 10 years.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following a survey of more than 2,000 small business owners, the report reveals some of the biggest challenges they\u2019re facing and how the government can do more to help.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Worryingly, it found 37 per cent of high street shop owners are planning to close or sell their business in 2025. Falling <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/retail\/how-to-increase-footfall-in-a-retail-store-or-local-shop\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1000\">footfall<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/what-are-business-rates\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1560\">high business rates<\/a> are just some of the reasons cited for this decline.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those surveyed shared some of the key challenges leading to high street businesses closing:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">soaring costs of running a business (52 per cent)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">reduced consumer spending (29 per cent)&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked what could help keep their businesses open long term, a third (34 per cent) stated lower overheads, while almost half (45 per cent) said an increase in customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-government-action-could-help\">How government action could help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Though the issues each business faces can vary, there are practical actions that would offer some relief to almost all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked what the most important action the government could take to better support them, small business owners told us:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex has-3-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover has-aspect-ratio\" style=\"min-height:234px;aspect-ratio:1;min-height:unset;\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#2a1e81\"><\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-26951\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/11\/Circles-02.png\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/11\/Circles-02.png 300w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/11\/Circles-02.png?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/11\/Circles-02.png?resize=96,96 96w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-max-massive-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>24%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Reduce business rates for high street businesses <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover has-aspect-ratio\" style=\"min-height:234px;aspect-ratio:1;min-height:unset;\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#4632d8\"><\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-26949\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/11\/Circles-01.png\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/11\/Circles-01.png 300w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/11\/Circles-01.png?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/11\/Circles-01.png?resize=96,96 96w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-max-massive-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>27%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Government actively incentivising people to shop locally with small businesses<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light has-aspect-ratio\" style=\"min-height:234px;aspect-ratio:1;min-height:unset;\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#b5adef\"><\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-26952\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/11\/Circles-03.png\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/11\/Circles-03.png 300w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/11\/Circles-03.png?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/11\/Circles-03.png?resize=96,96 96w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-max-massive-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>16%<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Increase tax for big online retailers and national chains<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-evolving-the-high-street\">Evolving the high street<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high street might need to evolve if it\u2019s to truly thrive.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asking business owners what would make them more likely to visit their local high street:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">61 per cent said <strong>more independent businesses <\/strong>and <strong>fewer chains<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">58 per cent said <strong>free or cheap parking<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">50 per cent said a <strong>wider variety of things to do<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-body-001\">\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-rising-energy-bills-making-things-tighter\">Rising energy bills making things tighter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mark Maciver, owner of barber shop Slider Cuts, said: \u201cRising costs have definitely affected our business \u2013 particularly energy costs. One month we were paying \u00a3250, the next it was \u00a31,300, then \u00a31,200. It was all over the place.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen you have a business where you\u2019re not making that much profit, when things go up, it can make things a lot tighter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOne way the government could help me, and other small businesses right now, would be easier access to funding\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-worrying-look-to-the-future\">&#8216;A worrying look to the future\u2019<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Simply Business UK CEO, Julie Fisher said: \u201cThe UK\u2019s high streets are an important part of British culture. These vital hubs provide essential services and are crucial for the UK economy \u2013 but high street businesses have made clear the stark reality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Our annual SME Insights Report has revealed almost three quarters (74 per cent) have seen customer numbers decline. And in a worrying look to the future, 63 per cent think the UK high street has just 10 years left before it becomes obsolete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSeeing so many SMEs across the UK struggling is a serious cause for concern, not just for the founders of these businesses but for the British economy and our wider communities. SMEs provide over \u00a32.8 trillion in annual turnover, and account for over half (60 per cent) of private sector employment. Our high street businesses play a key part in these figures.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFrom reduced business rates to initiatives that increase footfall, we encourage the government to acknowledge the fears of Britain\u2019s inspiring entrepreneurs and hear their calls for support.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-news-and-guides-for-small-businesses\"><strong>News and guides for small businesses<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-tax\/self-employed-tax-changes\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1514\" >Small business tax changes<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/business-news\/rising-costs-force-small-businesses-to-increase-prices\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"39120\" >Rising costs force small businesses to increase their prices<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/marketing\/seo-for-small-business\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"38082\" >How to use SEO to improve a small business<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/marketing\/5-ways-to-tell-your-customers-about-a-price-increase\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1147\" >How to tell your customers about a price increase<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-body-end\">\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Survey reveals the growing challenges of running a high street business and what needs to be done. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":2691,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"sb_hreflang":"","sb_hreflang_url":"","disable_breadcrumbs":false,"sb_breadcrumbs":[],"sb_reviewed_by":"","sb_review_date":"","sb_enable_content_gating":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[347,110],"hidden-category":[],"coauthors":[25],"class_list":["post-39865","knowledge","type-knowledge","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-retail","category-business-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - 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