ACS has welcomed the simplified process for personal licence renewals set out by the Home Office ahead of the implementation of the Deregulation Bill.
The Deregulation Bill, which is currently before Parliament, intends to scrap the requirement for personal licence holders to renew their licence every ten years. However, the passing of this Bill will be after the ten year renewal point for those who were granted their licence in early 2005, so those holders will need to renew their licence.
Councils are being urged to use their business rates powers to increase access to free-to-use cash machines on high streets and in town centres.
Companies who install and operate cash machines generally pay business rates to the local authority for each machine.
Small convenience stores can struggle with this despite there being help available from Government that reduces costs by offering business rates discounts to these firms.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has revealed that retail sales are forecast to exceed £335bn in 2014, an increase of 15 per cent on 2010.
Estimates from BIS also show this has been a record year for smaller firms who have turned over £71bn over the last year.
The Department for Business has provided greater clarity on the ongoing legal issues surrounding backdated holiday pay, tabling regulations to introduce a two year limitation on how far back a claim for deduction from wages can go.
ACS has welcomed a consultation from the Department of Health on introducing age restrictions for the purchase of electronic cigarettes. The proposed regulations would:
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:
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:
Two new guidance documents have been launched today by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) to support retailers and police in the fight against crime.
Launched as part of the Home Office’s Crime Prevention Panel, the guidance is aimed at the prevention of fuel theft and issues surrounding the operation of self scan tills.
ACS has published a guide for convenience retailers on how to display men's lifestyle magazines. The Guide is designed to assist retailers in understanding best practice and how to comply with the longstanding industry code of practice. The guidance has been published as part of ACS' on-going commitment to deliver on the Prime Minister's challenge to reduce the exposure of children to sexualised imagery.
The Periodical Publishers Association has published a code of practice on the sale of these titles. The guidelines are available below, along with the ACS guide in full.
ACS appeared on BBC Newsnight last night to discuss changing consumer habits and trends toward more convenience shopping.
In response to a report published on Monday by Goldman Sachs, which was critical of the number of supermarkets in operation, ACS Chief Executive James Lowman was joined by journalist and broadcaster Harry Wallop in a discussion with presenter Evan Davis about the growth of the convenience sector and online retailing.
