News
ACS: Future Wage Rates Must Not Be Political Bargaining Tool
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has submitted evidence to the Low Pay Commission as part of their consultation on future minimum wage rates, calling for the process to remain independent, evidence-based and free of political pressure.
Minimum wages are expected to reach the Low Pay Commission’s target of 60% of median earnings by 2020, a rate which is currently predicted to be £8.67 for the National Living Wage. The Commission is currently consulting on its future remit post-2020.
Read MoreACS Welcomes GroceryAid’s New Support Service
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is encouraging retailers to make full use of a new service launched by industry charity Grocery Aid. The GroceryAid’s Workplace Critical Incident Support service, delivered in partnership with workplace counselling specialists CiC, aims to support grocery colleagues who have witnessed or been involved in a traumatic incident at work, such as accidents at work, violent attacks, medical emergencies, robberies with a threat to life and the death of a colleague.
Read MoreGovernment Confirms Change to More Frequent Business Rates Revaluations
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed an announcement from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on changes to the frequency of business rates revaluations. The next revaluation, previously scheduled for 2022, will be brought forward to 2021, with revaluations taking place every three years thereafter instead of the current five year period.
Read MoreCard Payment Failures Highlight Importance of Access to Cash
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed calls from Which? to ensure that access to cash is preserved in the future.
New research published by Which? has found that one in seven people were left unable to use their card due to an outage in the last year, with half (49%) saying they couldn’t pay for goods and services at the point of sale as a result.
According to the research, one in five of those left unable to use their card due to an outage said they now keep more cash with them.
Read MoreBook Your Place at ACS’ Forecourt Conference!
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 Julyat the King Power Stadium in Leicester.
Read MoreACS Supports World Food Safety Day
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is supporting the first ever World Food Safety Day (7th June), and is reminding retailers about their safety and hygiene responsibilities when selling food.
Read MoreCross Party Small Shops Group: Incentivising Investment Crucial for Future of Welsh Businesses
The Cross-Party Group on Small Shops has called on the Government to focus on reforming the business rates system so that it encourages retailers to invest and improve their businesses during a meeting in the National Assembly for Wales today (June 5th).
The meeting was attended by AMs, Welsh Government officials and independent retailers from across Wales, and heard from Rebecca Evans AM – Minister for Finance and Trefnydd on what the Welsh Government is doing to help small businesses with their rates bills.
Read MoreACS Welcomes New Campaign to Inform Drivers About Fuel Labelling
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the launch of a new Government campaign aimed at educating drivers about fuel labels on fuel sites.
From today, fuel sites across the UK will start rolling out new labels which will help drivers issue identify fuels and reduce misfuelling. New regulations legally require additional labelling to be introduced on all fuel dispensers and nozzles in all UK filling stations by 1st September 2019.
Read MoreACS Sets Out Convenience Sector’s Commitment to Tackling Waste on World Environment Day
ACS is celebrating the work of the convenience sector in reducing waste and helping the environment on World Environment Day (June 5th).
Read MoreACS Provides Clarity for Retailers with New Assured Advice Updates
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has launched the latest set of its industry leading Assured Advice guides at the 2019 Responsible Retailing Forum.
ACS works with Surrey/Bucks Trading Standards to provide comprehensive advice for members that if followed, must be respected by enforcement authorities. Assured Advice is backed by the Government to help businesses avoid confusion over different interpretations of the law in different areas across England and Wales. To date, over 3,500 retailers have signed up to Assured Advice.
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