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Heart of the Community Seminar

Thu, 15 Nov 2012

12:00pm to 3:30pm

The Heart of the Community seminar is the flagship event for ACS members. The seminar aims to provide owners of convenience stores the opportunity to get face-to-face with politicians to highlight the concerns and issues affecting the convenience sector.

Confirmed to speak at the event are:

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Bob Neill MP
Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary Hilary Benn MP
Broadcast journalist Jon Sopel
Graeme Willis from CPRE
Hugh Ellis from the Town and Country Planning Association
New ACS Chairman Jonathan James
ACS’ research associate from the University of Oxford, Dr Tom Hastings, who will reveal his early findings as part of the Knowledge Transfer Partnership project into the community value of local shops.

ACS has been campaigning to strengthen national planning policy and ensure that there is a robust town centre first policy as part of the planning framework. Heart of the Community will see the culmination of much of this campaigning and also will occur around the time that Mary Portas publishes her much anticipated High Streets Review.

The Heart of the Community Seminar is your opportunity to meet with top ranking MPs from across the three main parties, show officials how important local shops are to the UK economy and have your say on the big decisions that affect our industry.

Parliamentary Reception, 4:00pm to 6:00pm

ACS will also be holding a reception on the Terrace at the House of Commons for the second year running after the huge success of the first event, which featured Business Secretary Mark Prisk and a host of other MPs who dropped in to speak to retailers.

Complimentary buffet and wine will be served at the reception. The event is free to attend, but places are limited so book yourself in now.

If you would like to attend please contact Sarah C Johnson on 01252 515001, or email sarah.johnson@acs.org.uk.

Heart of the Community Seminar

Wed, 14 Nov 2012

12:00pm to 3:30pm

Confirmed to speak at the event are:

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Bob Neill MP
Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary Hilary Benn MP
Broadcast journalist Jon Sopel
Graeme Willis from CPRE
Hugh Ellis from the Town and Country Planning Association
New ACS Chairman Jonathan James
ACS’ research associate from the University of Oxford, Dr Tom Hastings, who will reveal his early findings as part of the Knowledge Transfer Partnership project into the community value of local shops.

Parliamentary Reception, 4:00pm to 6:00pm

Complimentary buffet and wine will be served at the reception. The event is free to attend, but places are limited so book yourself in now.

If you would like to attend please contact Sarah C Johnson on 01252 515001, or email sarah.johnson@acs.org.uk.

Responsible Retailing Forum

Wed, 17 Oct 2012

ACS Responsible Retailing Forums focus on the impact of the proposed licensing changes contained in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill, Single use carrier bags, the work of the Drinkaware Trust and many more issues that convenience store retailers face when complying with legislation.

If you would like more information about the next Responsible Retailing Forum, please contact Sarah C Johnson on 01252 515001 or email sarah.johnson@acs.org.uk

Responsible Retailing Forum

Wed, 17 Oct 2012

If you would like more information about the next Responsible Retailing Forum, please contact Sarah C Johnson on 01252 515001 or email sarah.johnson@acs.org.uk

NACS Study Tour

Sun, 07 Oct 2012

This year's ACS Study Tour to the NACS Show in Chicago will provide unmissale international insight into the convenience sector. Features of the 2011 Tour include the following:

Hotel Accomodation
NACS Show Registration
Workshop sessions featuring international presenters
Atlanta Dinner
The NACS Show
The NACS Exhibition
Global Convenience Achievement Award

The NACS Show is all about providing you and your team with proven ideas and strategies that promote growth, attract customers, build your brand and improve your bottom line.

The NACS Show was again named the top trade show in the United States for "buying power" and second overall for buying plans according to the latest annual report on US trade shows developed by Exhibit Surveys, Inc.

For more information on the NACS Show, click here

Terms and Conditions

For cancellations made prior to the 1st September, there is no cancellation fee. After this time no refund will be given. There will be no refunds for registrants who do not attend the event.

Cancellations can only be accepted or email. Cancellation can be by email to sarah.johnson@acs.org.uk and will be valid for the relevant refund/credit so long as you have written acknowledgement.

Crime Prevention Forum

Thu, 06 Sep 2012

Insights from the Flying Squad, Hackney Police and Southern Co-operative Society are some of the highlights of the ACS Crime Prevention Forum taking place in the Harvey Goodwin Suite at the Church House Conference Centre, Deans Yard, Westminster, London SW1P 3NZ on Wednesday 12th October 2011.

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “Preventing crime and dealing with its consequences is a concern shared across our industry. This forum is a chance to hear insights from those ‘on the other side’ like the police and to showcase best practice from within our membership. I would encourage any retailer dealing with these issues in their business to come and take part.”

The agenda will cover three main themes. The first will explore Government action to reduce crime against the business community and ensure that victims of crime get proper support. In this session, there will be an update from ACS Public Affairs Executive Edward Woodall on the work that ACS is currently undertaking around crime policy.

The second theme of the day, entitled Working in Partnership will look at how retailers can work with other companies and industry bodies to protect their business. Already confirmed to speak in this session are Gareth Lewis, Loss Prevention Manager for the Southern Co-operative Group and Andy Newman, Licensing Sergeant for the Hackney Police who will give insights on the most effective and important partnerships available to retailers.

In the final session of the day, retailers will be invited to discuss best practice and investment options around staff safety. Some of the speakers confirmed to feature in the discussion are John Porter, Social Enterprise Manager for the Suzy Lamplugh Trust who will share his expertise of safety training for SMEs and Mark Beale, head of the Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad who will talk to retailers about how convenience stores can best deal with robberies.

AGENDA:

Working with Government

James Lowman

Baroness Browning, Minister for Crime and Anti Social Behaviour Q&A with Minister

Q&A

Laura Ratcliffe, ASB Team, Home Office – will outline the Government’s proposed changes to the Anti Social behaviour tool kit.
Wendi Mitchell, Victim and Witness Unit, Ministry of Justice – Outlining the importance of Victim Personal Statements and how businesses can use them

Edward Woodall, Public Affairs Executive, ACS – Crime Policy Update

Q&A

Working In Partnership

Gareth Lewis, Loss Prevention Manager, Southern Co-op – discussing effective partnership working with local police

Andy Newman, Hackney Police Licensing Sergeant – will outline examples of partnership working in undertaken by Hackney Police

Breakout Discussion

Investing in Safety

Mark Beale, Head of Flying Squad, Metropolitan Police – Best Practice for Convenience stores on robbery

John Porter, Social Enterprise Manager, Suzy Lamplugh Trust – Safety Training for Small business

Mark Stevenson, Loss Prevention Manager, Tates – Outlining the implementation of the Facewatch Scheme in his stores

Q&A

Retailer only discussion

Forecourt Seminar

Thu, 05 Jul 2012

The ACS Forecourt Seminar, to be held at the Walker's Stadium in Leicester on July 7th, will give essential insights to forecourt retailers and spark the debate on the most effective ways to succeed in a difficult market.

This year's seminar is being run in conjunction with RMI Petrol, a trade association aimed specifically at dealing with forecourt issues. On the day, RMI will tackle the issues of business rates, the Budget and tackling the issue of "two-tier pricing" with the Government.

There will also be presentations from Harvest Energy, Torex, BankMachine, him!, JTI and Said Business School. This event is free for ACS members. To book your place, please contact Sarah C Johnson on 01252 515001 or email sarah.johnson@acs.org.uk.

The event is sponsored by JTI, BankMachine and Harvest Energy.

Safer Trading Conference

Tue, 22 May 2012

Safer Trading Conference

Summit 12

Tue, 27 Mar 2012

At Summit12 ACS will prepare its members to take on the multiples in the battle for the high street. The one-day Summit, which will be co-located with the National Convenience Show for the second year running, will advise convenience retailers on how to use their natural advantages to gain a competitive upper hand.

The Summit will tackle four key competitive areas; sustainability, community, people and technology in an interactive programme of presentations, workshops and panel debates. The Summit will also profile top performing retailers in each of these areas, identified during an exhaustive ‘road trip’ along the length and breadth of Britain undertaken by award-winning retailer, Rav Garcha. “The road trip will highlight ‘the best of British’ to inspire others to raise their game and win,” says ACS CEO, James Lowman. In the build up to the Summit, several of the retailers visited on the road trip will be featured in the pages of Convenience Store magazine.

He explains that, though the multiples tend to thrive in tough economic times, the ACS is not about to let them have it all their own way. “In the recession of the 90’s they bolstered their out of town presence at a time when land was cheap and government keen to encourage development. This time they’re using their deep pockets to drive towards domination in all formats at the cost of the convenience retailer. We’re focusing our members’ minds on strategies proven to out compete them.”

Summit attendees will be encouraged to pool their own ideas too. In a series of breakout sessions, chaired by industry experts and focused on each of the Summit’s four themes, they’ll be invited to suggest and share winning tactics. These will then be voted on live by Summit attendees to identify the twelve that show most promise to become the focus of investment and development by ACS members.

The Summit will be chaired by broadcaster, John Stapleton and key note speakers will include:

Historian, author and futurologist James Bellini, who will look at the macro-economic forces that are shaping consumer behaviour and consider how convenience retailers can respond.
Gerald Ratner, whose recovery from high street humiliation has lessons for every independent retailer.
Spar’s newly appointed Managing Director, Debbie Robinson will be giving her much anticipated view on the future of the convenience sector.

Break out sessions will be chaired by Jonathan Reynolds, Academic Director of the Oxford Institute of Retail Management; Scott Anna, Principal of FMCG consultancy, SRCG; Adam Leyland, Editor of The Grocer magazine, and Dennis Reid, Chairman of retail consultancy, RPS Global.

Debate at the conference will be fuelled by research into the future of convenience retailing. Commissioned by the National Convenience Show and delivered by retail research specialists, him!, the research will be conducted among consumers, readers of Convenience Store magazine, ACS members and pre-registered attendees to the National Convenience Show. “We welcome this NCS initiative, which will bring together the views of retailers and their customers to create a catalyst for customer focused change across the industry,” says James Lowman.

The ACS Summit will share its ‘winning on the high street’ theme with the National Convenience Show, which attracted over 6,000 visitors to its revitalised format in 2011. “We saw Summit attendance grow by 17% last year as members took advantage of the opportunity to take part in the Summit as they visited the show,” says James. “We expect to go from strength to strength in 2012.”

NCS

Sun, 25 Mar 2012

National Concenience Show...

...making convenience more convenient

The countdown to the National Convenience Show 2012 has begun! Building on the success of its launch in 2011, NCS 2012 will open its doors from 25-27 March 2012 at Birmingham's NEC. The event will incorporate:

A trade show packed with 300 suppliers showcasing their most innovative products and offering great business advice

The ACS Summit – offering inspiring speakers and high-level networking
The ACS Comedy Night – celebrating the excellence of your sector
The Grocer Top 50 Annual Lunch

For more informaiton visit the NCS website.