Tag: Department for Business and Trade

‘Pints’ of wine stocked on Britain’s shelves for the first time ever

  • ‘Pint’ size wine stocked on Britain’s shelves for the first time ever thanks to new freedoms from leaving the European Union
  • Still and sparkling wine to be sold in 200ml, 500ml and 568ml ‘pint’ sizes in 2024
  • 900 British vineyards set to benefit across the country from new freedoms 

UK tipplers will soon be able to purchase ‘pint’ sized bottles of still and sparkling wine, as a new 568ml size is introduced to Britain’s supermarket shelves, pubs, clubs and restaurants, the Department for Business and Trade has announced today (27th December).

The move to introduce the 568ml size would sit alongside the 200ml and 500ml measures already available, offering more flexibility and choice for customers.

The UK’s wine sector is set for the boost as part of the Government’s smarter regulation programme to ensure regulations are up to date and agile,. The move comes following engagement with the industry, with businesses now being able to sell prepacked still and sparkling wine in 500ml and 200ml sizes as well as a new 568ml ‘pint’ quantity.

900 vineyards are set to benefit from the new freedoms, boosting production and supporting British businesses, which currently produce around 12.2 million bottles of still or sparkling wine a year*.

These optional reforms from Government are thanks to our new Brexit freedoms via the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 and are wholeheartedly backed by industry wanting to reduce burdensome regulations.

The changes will help to boost innovation, increase business freedoms and improve choice for consumers.

Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business Kevin Hollinrake said: “Innovation, freedom and choice – that’s what today’s announcement gives to producers and consumers alike.

“Our exit from the EU was all about moments just like this, where we can seize new opportunities and provide a real boost to our great British wineries and further growing the economy.”

Nicola Bates, CEO of WineGB said: “We welcome the chance to be able to harmonise still and sparkling bottle sizes and we are happy to raise a glass to the greater choice that allows UK producers for domestic sales.

“The Windsor Framework also means that newly packaged wine will be able to be sold by bars, restaurants and retailers in Northern Ireland – with products able to move in what is known as the retail “Green Lane”, under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme.”

In addition to announcing the deregulatory measure on wine, the Government has published a response to the consultation Choice on units of measurement: markings and sales. Following the extensive consultation, the Government has decided not to introduce any new legislation in this area. But new guidance has been issued to promote awareness and use of imperial measurements.

The Government will continue to keep this legislative framework under consideration, as part of a wider review of metrology EU derived legislation.

Boost to confidence for Scots following Help To Grow: Management Course


·       More than 300 Scottish SME leaders complete Help to Grow: Management Course

·       Recently published data1 from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) reveals nine in 10 (91%) would recommend Help to Grow: Management to other business leaders

·       Scottish SMEs looking for support are encouraged to sign-up to next cohort

·       Edinburgh-based narrowboat operator doubles turnover after completing course

More than 300 business leaders across Scotland have now completed the Help to Grow: Management Course in a bid to strengthen resilience and innovation, according to new figures from the Department for Business and Trade. 

The 12-week Help to Grow: Management Course was founded in April 2021 to help business leaders and senior managers to increase resilience, innovation, and growth within their organisations. 

In Scotland, 320 SME leaders had finished the course by February 2023 across six Scottish business schools at University of Strathclyde, University of the West Scotland, Heriot-Watt University, Robert Gordon University and University of Stirling*. Throughout the UK, 3,340 people had completed the course across 52 UK business schools. 

Research2, published in May and undertaken by Ipsos, highlights the impact Help to Grow: Management has had on UK businesses. Seven in 10 (69%) report greater confidence in leading and managing their business while two thirds (66%) felt their leadership and management skills had improved. 

SME leaders across a variety of sectors have benefitted from taking part in the training including those in manufacturing, construction, professional services, scientific, and technical industries, and information and communication. Help to Grow: Management compromises four waves of three modules, 1-2-1 business mentoring, peer-learning and access to the Alumni Network.  

Encouragingly, six in 10 (61%) UK business leaders now have a better understanding of how to innovate their business model and are more aware of factors that drive business productivity and growth. Over nine in 10 (92%) say they have shared what they learned or gained with others in their business within six weeks of completing the programme. 

The advice given to help business leaders embrace working in a post-Covid era also resulted in almost four in five (78%) reporting improved employee engagement.  

Help to Grow: Management has supported leaders from often under-represented demographics. More than a fifth (17%) of participants identified as being from ethnic minority backgrounds, compared to 6% of all UK SME owners, whilst a third (34%) were women, compared to 24% of UK SME owners. A broad range of ages were also welcomed to the course with one in five aged between 50-65 and a quarter aged between 25-34.  

Report findings3 also showed that 91% of participants would recommend Help to Grow: Management to other business leaders.   

Clare Halliday, Managing Director of Refreshing Scotland Ltd, in Roslin, participated in the course at Strathclyde University Business School. She said: “I signed up for the Help to Grow: Management Course because I wanted to find out how to take my business forward.

“One of my biggest takeaways was that it taught me how to say no and offload customers that weren’t the right fit for us, and that’s a really difficult thing to do when you haven’t got a very big business.  

“It definitely made me brave and it’s paid off, in the full financial year since I did the course we have doubled Refreshing Scotland’s turnover.” 

Michael Hayman MBE, Chair, Small Business Charter, said: “The success of the UK’s SME sector is critical to the growth of the wider economy. The Help to Grow: Management Course is designed to directly benefit our vibrant SME sector, equipping today’s leaders and future leaders with the tools, knowledge and confidence to identify and lead change, innovation and growth.

“It’s also brilliant to see the course attracting a wider diversity of business leaders, something we want to continue embracing as the programme progresses.  

“We look forward to continuing to support business leaders across Scotland and the rest of the UK as they take the steps needed to introduce change that will help them for years to come.” 

Delivered by Small Business Charter-accredited business schools, the course is available in more than 50 locations across the UK with 90% of the fee participants pay covered by the government.  

The value of the programme continues long after participants have finished the course with the majority (86%) continuing to interact with other SME leaders outside of their firm through networking and informal discussions.  

Almost one in four (23%) also continue to be mentored by their Help to Grow: Management mentor while many are exploring further courses (67%), attending alumni events (59%) and gaining new accreditations (43%). 

*Scottish business schools that now offer the Help to Grow: Management Course include: 

·      Aberdeen Business School at Robert Gordon University;  

·      School of Business at University of Dundee; 

·      School of Business, Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University; 

·      School of Business & Creative Industries at University of the West of Scotland; 

·      Strathclyde Business School at University of Strathclyde; 

·      Stirling Management School at University of Stirling.