Book your place at this year’s Heart of the Community Conference and Reception, taking place in the House of Commons Attlee Suite and the House of Commons Terrace on the 2nd September.

Heart of the Community is the biggest political conference in the ACS calendar, where retailers can ensure their voice is heard by engaging directly with MPs, sharing the great work they do in their communities and discussing the issues that matter to local shops.

This year’s event will be headlined by an exclusive address from the New Statesman’s Rachel Cunliffe, providing an inside track on how the new Government has performed in its first year. There will also be speeches from High Streets Minister Alex Norris MP and Shadow Local Government Secretary Kevin Hollinrake MP, providing different views on what needs to be done to support the convenience sector and the wider high street.

Heart of the Community will also see the launch of the 2025 Local Shop Report, a comprehensive look at the convenience sector which provides exclusive insight into the stores we run, the people we employ and the communities we serve. Join us on the day as we hear from an expert panel of award-winning retailers who will be discussing the findings and what they mean for the sector.

The main conference will be followed by a reception on the House of Commons Terrace, which will feature the presentation of the 2025 Raj Aggarwal Trophy for outstanding community retailing by a Government Minister.

Places are limited, and therefore we strongly encourage retailers to secure their place to ensure their voice is heard by members of Parliament. You can book your place for Heart of the Community here: https://www.acs.org.uk/events/heart-community-2025

Applications for the Raj Aggarwal Trophy 2025 close on the 19th June. You can submit your application here.