Taking place virtually on 23rd February, ACS’ Rural Shop Report launch event will provide an insight into the essential role that rural shops play in their local communities and to the wider economy.
The morning launch event will reveal the findings of this year’s report, providing a comprehensive overview of rural shops in the convenience sector, the services that they offer and the people running the stores.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed an announcement from the Government on plans to simplify the ‘Kickstart Scheme’, making it easier for retailers to create new job placements for their local communities.
The Department for Work and Pensions has announced plans to amend its Kickstart Scheme to allow employers to apply directly from 3rd February, regardless of the number of jobs to be funded.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is advising retailers to follow the Department for Transport’s Snow Code when moving snow and ice outside their stores. Under Health and Safety law, businesses are required (so far as is reasonably practicable) to keep routes into the store free from anything that may cause a person to slip, trip or fall.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is working in partnership with Alzheimer’s Society to host a number of virtual awareness sessions to create more Dementia Friends in the convenience sector.
The sessions are free for ACS members to attend and will be taking place on the following dates:
At the start of 2020, ACS launched a campaign to create 25,000 Dementia Friends in the convenience sector to help customers, colleagues and communities affected by dementia.
More speakers have been announced for this year’s Technology Showcase, taking place virtually on 10th February 2021.
The Showcase will feature presentations from:
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the Scottish Parliament’s decision to pass a Bill to create a new statutory offence for assaulting, threatening or abusing a retail worker, particularly those applying or enforcing an age-restriction in relation to the sale or supply of goods or services.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has urged Welsh ministers to work in closer collaboration with retailers when they introduce new measures to tackle the spread of Covid-19. New requirements have been introduced today with no advance notice of changes that businesses need to make immediately.
From today, all retail stores in Wales are required to do the following:
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the progress of a Bill in Parliament to postpone the next re-evaluation of business rates until 2023.
The Non-Domestic Rating (Lists) (No.2) Bill, would postpone the date on which the next revaluation of business rates in England and Wales takes effect until 1st April 2023. The Scottish Government has also committed to delay its revaluation until the same date.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is encouraging local shops to get involved with a new campaign designed to support those who find it difficult to socially distance.
ACS has responded to a Home Affairs Select Committee consultation on violence and abuse against shopworkers, calling on the Home Office to send a clearer message that offences will not be tolerated.
In its’ submission, ACS states that the Home Office’s response to its Call for Evidence does not go far enough to protect retailers and their colleagues from abuse. Key recommendations in the submission include:
