May 2018

VegPower, a fund launched at the beginning of this month to encourage people to eat more vegetables has already reached over £35,000.

The marketing fund will use the top people in the advertising industry to create innovative digital campaigns targeted at children, with the aim of inspiring them to eat more vegetables. The crowdfund has been live for just over a week and has already reached £35,110. The aim is to raise a total of £100,000. More details about the crowdfund are available here: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/vegpower.

ACS has welcomed the launch of a new inquiry led by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee on the future of UK high streets and town centres.

The inquiry will examine the future role of the high street in contributing to the local economy and the health, cohesion and cultural life of the local community. It will also look at how local areas are planning for the future of their high streets and town centres and creating the conditions to sustain them in the coming years.

ACS has submitted a joint response with SGF to the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee Inquiry on the ATM network, raising concerns about the impact that the removal of ATMs could have on local consumers, especially those in rural areas.

The Inquiry was launched as a result of a decision by LINK to reduce ATM interchange fees paid by banks to ATM operators and retailers by 20% over a four year period starting from July. The Inquiry is considering the impact of this decision on Scottish businesses, consumers and high streets.

Today a new fund is being launched to tackle the critical issue of veg consumption which is contributing to 20,000 premature deaths every year in the UK. 

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has launched the ACS National Living Wage Survey 2018 as part of its evidence gathering process for a submission to the Low Pay Commission.

The Low Pay Commission is consulting on what the rates for the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates should be from April 2019. The consultation will also consider the impact of a potential premium on top of existing wage rates to apply for working hours not guaranteed by an employment contract, following a recommendation from the Taylor Review into Modern Employment Practices.