New cost-of-living business tsar appointed

David Buttress, former chief executive of Just Eat, has been appointed to the position by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

In his role, Mr Buttress will be working to build on the schemes, offers and targeted help that some businesses and organisations are already providing and help raise awareness of the private sector offer to the public, which is in addition to extensive government-funded support.

Successful examples include price locking campaigns seen in retailers Asda, Sainsbury’s and Boots, and energy supplier Octopus’ decision to double its hardship support fund, which has helped more than 36,000 people so far.  

The Holiday Activities and Food Programme provides one such opportunity for local-level partnerships between sports clubs and supermarkets, backing projects that boost access to free activities and food during the holidays for disadvantaged children, including those in receipt of free school meals.

Mr Buttress on Tuesday (14 June) joined a roundtable with supermarkets and sports organisations hosted by the Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi, where they will discuss the role that the private sector can play in helping low-income families, including through the government’s Holiday Activities and Food Programme. 

Representatives from organisations such as Co-op, John Lewis Partnership/Waitrose, Swim England, Sport England, and English Football League are due to attend.

“Businesses and organisations across the country have stepped up time and time again when the nation needs it most. The financial pressures people are facing as a result of current global challenges will be no different,” said Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Steve Barclay.

Mr Buttress said the rising cost of living both in the UK and globally, provides business and industry with a unique challenge and opportunity.

The new role of cost-of-living business tsar is the latest strand of government action to support people with challenging financial pressures.

Last month, the government announced that 8 million of the most vulnerable households (around a third of all UK households) will receive £1,200 this year and all families will receive £400 – this is on top of changes to Universal Credit, National Living Wage and National Insurance thresholds, so that people keep more of what they earn.

This takes total government cost-of-living support to over £37 billion – higher than other major economies around the world.

The government has recently launched a new website that brings government support on offer together in one place so the public can see what support they could be eligible for: www.gov.uk/costoflivingsupport