News

Taking place today (11th July) this year’s Forecourt Conference heard from a number of industry experts about fuel retailing, changing consumer demand, policy developments and the future of the sector.

The first session, Future of Fuels, discussed the technological developments happening in the sector globally, exploring the move towards electric and alternative fuels and the implications that this has on forecourts and fuel retailing.

Small Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst MP has been confirmed to speak at the Parliamentary Reception following ACS’ Heart of the Community conference taking place on 15^th October in the heart of Westminister.

ACS has responded to new figures on the levels of police funding between 2015 and 2020, urging the Government and Police and Crime Commissioners to ensure that retail crime is on the agenda for local forces.

The Home Office document shows that overall police funding, including counter-terrorism police funding, has increased by £1bn between 2018-19 and 2019-20. This includes an increase in funding to Police and Crime Commissioners of £815m, as well as funding for national priorities, counter-terrorism policing and the £100m serious violence fund.

The 2019 ACS Forecourt Conference is the unmissable event for those interested in fuel retailing and the future of the sector. This year’s event is taking place on 11th July at the King Power Stadium in Leicester.

The conference provides the opportunity for delegates to hear from expert speakers as they discuss the issues currently affecting forecourt retailers and some issues that they may face in the future. This year’s conference is split into two thought-provoking sessions which will take a detailed look at evolution of the sector and the issues affecting fuel retailing.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has submitted evidence to the Payment Systems Regulator urging them to protect access to cash.

The Payment Systems Regulator launched a call for views about the structure of ATM interchange fees and how this impacts ATM operators and retailers that host machines across the country.

The Government has responded to the House of Lords Rural Economy Committee’s final report about how Government policy could strengthen rural businesses and communities.

The 2019 ACS Rural Shop Report reveals that rural convenience stores provide flexible jobs for almost 140,000 people, have invested over £271m in improving their businesses, and continue to provide a wide range of services despite slow broadband speeds and unreliable mobile connectivity.

The Low Pay Commission has visited an East of England Co-op store in Gorleston as part of its Visits Programme in Great Yarmouth. ACS supports retailers to take part in the Low Pay Commission Visits Programme to provide first hand evidence about the impact of the National Living Wage and employment costs.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is encouraging retailers to get involved with Independents’ Day 2019.

Taking place today (4^th July) Independents’ Day is a campaign which aims to support and promote independent retail businesses across the UK. The grassroots campaign urges shoppers to visit their local independent businesses and share the campaign to encourage as many people as possible to support the independent businesses in their local area.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is supporting International Plastic Bag Free Day (3^rd July) and is celebrating the work that convenience retailers have done to reduce the number of plastic bags being given out to customers.

The Government published their Resources and Waste Strategy which proposed to extend the current plastic bag charge to require all retailers to charge for single-use plastic bags.

ACS has given evidence to a committee of MPs on the appropriateness of the current regulatory framework surrounding the sale, storage and use of fireworks, highlighting the work that retailers are doing to prevent underage sales.

The evidence session is part of the Petitions Committee’s inquiry into fireworks, following up on a petition that has been signed by nearly 300,000 people calling for a ban on the sale of fireworks to the public and for fireworks displays to be restricted to licenced venues.