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UK: Milton Advisers has appointed Ben Spier as principal to strengthen the company’s regulatory and policy offering.
Prior to this role, Spier has spent ten years working in the Government Legal Department advising the drafting of legislation. After moving to the short-term rental industry, he worked as head of regulation and policy at Forge Holiday Group, the parent company of Sykes Cottages. Spier is also a director of the Professional Association of Self-Caterers UK.
“I’ve seen policy from both sides,” Spier said. “Drafting it in government, and then seeing its real-world impact on businesses, jobs and communities. Milton’s approach of combining senior political insight with relentless focus on the client is one I share, and I’m excited to bring that experience to a wider range of organisations navigating a fast-changing regulatory landscape.”
Throughout his career, Spier has been an active voice on policy affecting the self-catering and short-lets sector, especially for rural and coastal communities with few other economic drivers. At Forge, he advised the business and holiday-let owners across the UK and Ireland on some of the most contested policy questions regarding tourism and short-term lets, such as taxation, visitor levies and energy efficiency regulation. Most notably, he played a leading part in a cross-government and parliamentary campaign against proposals for a minimum EPC rating of C for holiday lets. That campaign ended with the Government not proceeding with its proposal, preventing thousands of holiday-let businesses across the UK from possible permanent closures.
Spier has also given evidence to parliamentary committees, supported trade associations including the Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA) and the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC), and written and commented on regulation in The Times and The Telegraph.
“Ben knows how legislation is made because he spent a decade making it, and he knows how it lands because he has spent the years since working with businesses on the receiving end,” said Alexander Walker MBE and Louis Rynsard, co-founders of Milton Advisers. “That combination is exactly what our clients need as regulatory and taxation pressure grows across almost every sector. We’re delighted to have him on the team.”
Highlights:
- Milton Advisers has appointed Ben Spier as principal to strengthen its regulatory and policy advisory services, bringing expertise in government legislation and the short-term rental industry.
- Spier spent ten years in the Government Legal Department advising on the drafting of legislation before becoming head of regulation and policy at Forge Holiday Group, the parent company of Sykes Cottages.
- At Forge, Spier advised the business and holiday-let owners across the UK and Ireland on regulatory issues affecting the tourism and short-term rental sectors, including taxation, visitor levies and energy efficiency requirements.
- Spier played a leading role in a cross-government and parliamentary campaign opposing proposals to introduce a minimum EPC rating of C for holiday lets. The Government ultimately did not proceed with the proposal, which could have put thousands of holiday-let businesses at risk of closure.
- In addition to his industry experience, Spier has given evidence to parliamentary committees, supported trade associations including the Short Term Accommodation Association and the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, and contributed regulatory commentary to The Times and The Telegraph. He is also a director of the Professional Association of Self-Caterers UK.
