Music Venue Trust statement on energy support package

21 September 2022 - Press release

"Music Venue Trust warmly welcomes this intervention by the Government, which appears at face value to comprehensively tackle the immediate short term energy crisis for Grassroots Music Venues. We await full details of the scheme and the method of implementation by the energy retailers and suppliers, but the base unit rate of 21.1p per kW/h laid out by these plans is sufficient to avert the collapse of the sector if it is fully delivered. We understand that the Government plans to bring forward controls to ensure that this target price is delivered and we look forward to reading their plans to implement this rate as a maximum for all music venues in the UK. 

The Government has indicated that 'pubs' will attract support for longer than the 6 month initial period based on the special circumstances of the energy crisis in relation to the operation of their business. We have asked for urgent clarification that the broad term 'pub' includes music venues and other licensed premises essential to the grassroots music ecosystem, and anticipate that this will be the case. It should, however, be noted that suppliers to this sector face extraordinary financial pressures resulting from the cost of living crisis and the Covid period. We have presented to the Government the case for action on VAT and Business Rates and await the statement by the Chancellor on Friday to see what further action will be taken to stabilise the sector and return it to growth.   

Music Venue Trust has requested that the Government work with us on long term plans to secure affordable, sustainable and resilient energy for the sector. There is a big opportunity presented by this crisis to support a radical intervention into energy supply and demand and we strongly urge the government to use the period of protected energy prices to bring forward plans to permanently tackle the causes of the energy crisis. Music Venue real estate is a prime candidate for renewable energy investment and we look forward to working with the announced Energy Supply Taskforce to realise that opportunity"

 

Mark Davyd
CEO & Founder
Music Venue Trust