December 2014

Government Launches New Report Celebrating British High Streets

The Department for Communities and Local Government yesterday (11th December) launched their new report, ‘Celebrating the Great British High Street 2014’.

The report showcases some of the best high street projects from across the country and provides ideas that other towns could implement. The report, launched at an exclusive event in the Palace of Westminster, was produced off the back of this year’s Great British High Street awards’ entries and winners.

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ACS Calls on Retailers to Respond to Crime Survey

ACS is calling on retailers to share their experiences of retail crime over the last 12 months as part of the Crime Survey 2015.

The survey asks retailers to outline the number of incidents of crime in their store, including shop theft, robberies and anti-social behavioural incidents. The survey also looks into the causes of these crimes and what measures retailers have in place to prevent crime from happening in their stores.

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ACS Welcomes Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme

New measures announced in the Finance Bill today will introduce an Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme (AWRS) in an attempt to tackle the illicit and non-duty paid alcohol market.

The AWRS will provide retailers and enforcement agencies with certainty about the legitimacy of alcohol wholesalers and make it more difficult for rogue wholesalers to sell illicit alcohol.

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David Gauke MP talks Business Rates to Small Shops Group

Financial Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke MP will address the All Party Parliamentary Small Shops today on the Government’s action on business rates and support for small shops.

Simon Danczuk MP, Chairman of the Small Shops Group, said: “I am pleased the Minister is taking the time to speak to the Small Shops Group about business rates. We saw the Chancellor make a number of announcements in the Autumn Statement, but small shops are keen to understand more about what the Government’s commitment to long term reform will mean to them.”

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Autumn Statement Reaction: Business Rates Reform

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the Chancellor's announcement in today's Autumn Statement on reform of the business rates system. During his Statement, the Chancellor announced the following measures as taken from the Autumn Statement document:

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Retailers Call for Action to Reduce Business Rates Burden

The Association of Convenience Stores, a trade association of over 33,500 shops representing an industry worth over £37bn to the economy, has called for the following measures to make the business rates system fairer ahead of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement today:

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ACS Welcomes Simplified Personal Licence Renewal Procedure

ACS has welcomed the Home Office’s simplified personal licence renewal application process for retailers prior to the implementation of the Deregulation Bill in early 2015. On Friday (28th November), the Home Office confirmed that they would be simplifying the renewal procedure for licensees who need to renew their personal licences between now and early 2015.

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