News

PASS, the scheme that audits and accredits proof of age schemes to assure retailers of which cards they can accept, is asking for views on how digital proof of age should be presented and verified in shops, pubs, cinemas and other places selling age restricted products and services.

Summit20 is an unmissable event for anyone involved with the convenience sector, bringing together retailers, suppliers, and industry experts from around the world to explore the successes and challenges of the industry and discuss new ideas retailers can walk away with.

This year's event, taking place on March 31st at the Vox in Birmingham, will focus on two of the biggest questions facing the convenience sector in the future, looking at whether convenience stores are primarily food retailers, and how the role of colleagues is changing in store.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed calls from Matthew Taylor, the Interim Director of Labour Market Enforcement for tighter regulation to tackle non-compliant hand car washes.

At an event at Resolution Foundation today (13^th February), Matthew Taylor called for the introduction of a national licensing scheme to tackle “endemic non-compliance” in the hand car wash sector.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is urging retailers to ensure that they are prepared for the introduction of the new polymer £20 and are aware of its security features.

From 20^th February 2020 the new polymer £20 will enter circulation and begin appearing in ATMs across the UK.

The £20 polymer note has been designed to be the most secure banknote yet, incorporating sophisticated security features which are difficult to counterfeit but are simple for retailers to check.

The two main security features to look out for are:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has reiterated calls to the Government to take urgent action to protect shopworkers from violence and abuse.

During a Westminster Hall debate on the Protection of Retail Workers, led by Mike Amesbury MP, there was agreement from MPs that there should be a specific new offence for attacks against someone serving the public.

Speaking in the debate, Gareth Thomas MP said: “We require shopworkers to uphold legislation passed by Parliament so the least we can do is make sure we protect those same workers”.

ACS has launched new versions of its industry leading Assured Advice guides, backed by Surrey and Bucks Trading Standards.

Thousands of ACS members already benefit from Assured Advice, with many more referring to ACS Assured Advice guides as best practice to help them and their colleagues in store. To date, the guides have been downloaded over 100,000 times.

Some of the notable updates to Assured Advice in the latest versions of the guides include:

The Association of Convenience Stores has called on the Government to ensure that rural shops are included in its plans to level up the UK economy. Published today, the 2020 Rural Shop Report outlines the crucial role that rural shops play in people’s daily lives as job creators, service providers and social hubs.  

ACS has called on the Chancellor to encourage investment in the UK’s 8,400 forecourts by committing to a business rates review in the 2020 Budget on March 11^th.

In its’ submission to the Budget, ACS has called for a business rates system that encourages investment and helps business to change, is fair for every type of business, and improves access to products and services. Over the last year, independent forecourt retailers invested an average of £14,463 in their stores (ACS Forecourt Report 2019).

Book your place at the ACS Crime Seminar, taking place on 10^th March, from 9:30am to 12pm at the Conrad St James Hotel in Westminster.

The Crime Seminar will begin with the launch of ACS’ Crime Report 2020 and will give an exclusive first look at the findings before a discussion with a panel of police, retailers and industry experts.

Members of the House of Lords have raised concerns about access to cash in communities and the provision of free to use ATMs in a debate in parliament earlier this week.

During the debate, Lord Naseby urged the Government to consider changing the way that business rates are levied on through the wall, free to use ATMs, and called on the Payment Systems Regulator to intervene to stop continued cuts to interchange fees.