ACS has announced a host of the finest comedy acts in the UK to provide plenty of laughter at this year’s ACS Variety Night. Combining entertainment, networking and a three course meal, the hugely successful Variety Night will once again be held on the evening of the ACS Summit 15 conference in the Metropole Hilton Hotel, opposite Summit’s NEC Birmingham venue.

Retailers and suppliers are invited to attend this can’t-miss event which kicks off with a drinks reception, followed by dinner and an evening boasting a host of award-winning comedy entertainers.

The Cross Party Group on Small Shops gathered yesterday (11^thMarch) to discuss the future of devolved business rates in Wales following the chancellor’s announcement in November’s Autumn Financial Statement.

ACS hosted its second Technology Showcase on 25th February at the Imperial War Museum in London. The event saw a host of technology experts exhibit their innovative convenience concepts to a room full of the most influential people in the convenience sector.

Seven companies showcased their products on the day, explaining how they can help them to increase profits, drive footfall or save money.

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.

ACS have launched a helpful new app to coincide with their unmissable Summit 15 event on 21st April 2015. The bespoke app is packed will features to enhance your experience before, during and after the convenience stores industry’s key event of the year, held at the NEC in Birmingham.

ACS is set to launch the new and highly inspirational ‘Battle of the Best’ section for their Summit 15 conference on 21st April 2015. The annual event, to be held at the NEC in Birmingham, will showcase multiple innovative and motivating convenience ideas from all over the UK.

ACS is challenging retailers to find and share the best ideas in convenience stores from around the globe as part of a host of changes to the industry leading Summit conference, taking place in Birmingham on April 21^st 2015.

This year, the Summit programme for 2015 will be split in to three inspiring sections, ‘The Big Download’, ‘The Master Plan’ and ‘The Ideas Studio’.

Today (6^th November), ACS took part in the Small Business Saturday UK Launch Event in Wales. Small Business Saturday is a day to celebrate all of the fantastic small businesses in the UK and encourages communities to support them in the run up to Christmas and in future.

The event was held in the National Assembly for Wales, with Janet Finch-Saunders AM, chair of the Cross Party Group on Small Shops; Shane Brennan, ACS Public Affairs Director; and Michelle Oven, National Campaign Director at Small Business Saturday UK speaking to a room full of small business owners.

On Tuesday 21^st October,  ACS held its first ever Technology Showcase. The event exhibited a selection of the very best innovations in technology available to convenience store retailers to help improve and benefit their business.

The seventh annual ACS Heart of the Community conference will be taking place on Tuesday 21st October from 12.00pm – 3.30pm.

The conference, held in Westminster, brings retailers from across the country together with MPs and Ministers to discuss important issues facing local shops.