February 2015

ACS has announced a selection of industry experts to speak at the ACS Crime Seminar, including a special message from Lynne Featherstone MP, the Home Office Crime Prevention Minister.  The event will take place on 5th March at Methodist Central Hall, London.

The Crime Seminar will also feature the launch of the ACS Crime Report 2015. The Report brings together the experiences of criminal activity from over 3,500 independent convenience retailers, providing an insight into the impact of crime on convenience stores.

Councillor Peter Dowd, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bootle and Leader of Sefton Council, visited Adrian Costain's Nisa store in Bootle recently to hear his concerns about business rates, crime and parking policy.

ACS has published a comprehensive guide to Managing Fire Safety as the latest addition to the Assured Advice scheme. The new guide provides an overview of what is expect of convenience retailers to comply with fire safety laws.

The ACS Assured Advice Guide for Managing Fire Safety contains detailed assistance to safeguard retailers, their staff and customers against fire risks and hazards. The guide comprises information about performing risk assessments, escape routes, fire precautions, extinguishers, staff training and record keeping.

David Cameron, leader of the Conservative party, urged businesses to give staff a pay rise in his speech. He also stated that the Conservatives planned to increase the amount of business rates that local areas could keep from 50% to at least two thirds. Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, also spoke at the conference, discussing the Lib Dem’s plans to prioritise small businesses for tax cuts. Chuka Umunna, Shadow Business Secretary, discussed Labour’s plans to devolve extra funding from central to local Government.

Ed Miliband announced plans to give new fathers a month of paid leave, nearly double the current rate. The plans would also bring paternity pay into line with the minimum wage, from £138.18 to at least £260 a week.  The policy would be expected to cost £150 million a year, funded through proposed changes to childcare. Paid paternity leave was introduced in 2013 and parents may be entitled to shared paternity leave and pay in April 2015.