The Bank of England will be withdrawing legal tender status of the paper £20 and £50 notes after 30 September 2022, and we are encouraging anyone who has these at home to spend or deposit them at their bank or Post Office.
Mar
31
March 2022
Mar
31
Book Your Place at ACS’ Technology Showcase!
Book your place at ACS’ Technology Showcase, taking place as a virtual event on 10th May.
The Technology Showcase provides a unique opportunity for retailers to find out about new technology solutions that have either been recently launched or will be launched in the future by suppliers. To book your place at the Showcase, click here.
Mar
30
Home Office Figures Shows Rise in Crime for Local Shops During Pandemic
Official figures from the Home Office published today (30th March) have again shown the link between the Covid-19 pandemic and crimes committed against wholesalers and retailers.
The Home Office data showed that nearly half (46%) of retailers perceived an increase in levels of violence and assault between April 2020 and March 2021. These findings closely align with ACS' 2022 Crime Report that estimated 35,000 violent incidents in convenience stores in the last 12 months.
Key findings of the Commercial Victimisation Survey include:
Mar
29
Book Now: Four Weeks Until Summit22!
Book your place at ACS’ biggest annual conference, taking place at the Vox in Birmingham on 26th April.
This year’s conference will explore how convenience stores are separating themselves from the competition right now and look ahead to the future at what the sector could look like in 2030.
Throughout the conference, we will also be exploring the idea of wellbeing with Music Psychotherapist Rebekah Duncalfe of Meraki Creative Therapies, looking at what wellbeing means, how you can support the wellbeing of others and how this applies to the convenience sector.
Mar
28
England / NI Deposit Return Plans to Exclude Glass; Disposable Cup Take-Back Scheme to Go Ahead
DEFRA has published its response to consultations on reforms to the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme, announcing that glass will not be in scope of the planned Deposit Return Scheme in England and Northern Ireland.
Mar
28
Rules on Face Coverings and Self-Isolation End in Wales
From today (28th March) face coverings are no longer legally required to be worn in shops or on public transport in Wales. Face-coverings are still legally required in health and social care settings and it is ‘strongly advised’ that they are worn in crowded areas.
In addition to the change in rules for face coverings, it is no longer a legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive for Covid in Wales. People who test positive and those with symptoms are still strongly advised to self-isolate, but it is no longer a legal requirement.
Mar
25
Book Your Place at ACS’ Technology Showcase!
Bookings are now open for ACS’ Technology Showcase, taking place as a virtual event on 10th May.
The Technology Showcase provides a unique opportunity for retailers to find out about new technology solutions that have either been recently launched or will be launched in the future by suppliers. To book your place at the Showcase, click here.
Mar
25
Welsh Government Campaign Aims to Tackle Illicit Tobacco Trade
The Welsh Government is running a campaign to raise public awareness the harms associated with illicit tobacco and the criminality that it brings into local communities.
The campaign aims to increase the health and wellbeing of the population in Wales by:
Mar
24
Covid-19 Sick Pay Rebate Scheme Closes Today
The Covid-19 Sick Pay Rebate Scheme is closing today (24th March). From tomorrow, retailers will no longer be able to claim back costs for sick pay issued due to Covid-19 between 21st December and 17th March.
Normal sick pay rules will apply for Covid-19 and other absences. This also means sick pay will no longer paid from the first day of absence. To be eligible for sick pay, colleagues must have been off work for at least 4 days in a row, including any usual non-working days.
Mar
24
New-Look Standards and Dignity Charter for the Wholesale and Convenience Sectors Launched
The Association of Convenience Stores and the Federation of Wholesale Distributors are relaunching the Standards & Dignity Charter, which has been updated as we emerge on the other side of the pandemic with face-to-face working and events ramping up.
