News

Parliament has approved the lockdown regulations for England, due to come into force tomorrow (Thursday).

The regulations were passed in the House of Commons this afternoon by 516 votes to 38 (a majority of 478), and will take effect until 2^nd December.

As part of the national lockdown, the Government has ordered certain businesses and venues to close. These include:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is reminding retailers about the importance of Purple Tuesday and the resources that are available to help local shops support their customers, including posters on face covering exemptions.

Taking place today (3^rd November) Purple Tuesday is a programme which aims to increase awareness of the value and the needs of disabled customers. The programme is free for organisations to take part in and involves making at least one new commitment to improve customer experience for disabled people.

These commitments include:

The Government has set out the new national restrictions which will take effect in England from 5^th November until 2^nd December, requiring people to stay at home and for some businesses to close.

As part of the national lockdown, the Government has ordered certain businesses and venues to close. These include:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to the second part of the HM Treasury’s fundamental review of business rates in England, outlining the key measures needed to ensure that the system supports local shops’ ability to invest and continue to provide their communities with essential products and services.

The second part of the review focused on valuations, appeals, the administration of business rates and alternatives to business rates.

In its submission ACS made a number of key recommendations, including:

ACS has reacted to the introduction of additional tier 3 restrictions in Nottingham and the surrounding areas, expressing disappointment at the decision to ban off licence alcohol sales from 9pm.

The additional tier 3 restrictions, which will come into force on Friday, affect the whole of Nottinghamshire

Taking place virtually on 25^th November, ACS’ Innovation Showcase is the unique chance for retailers and suppliers to come together to explore the latest products and services set to transform the sector.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to energy regulator Ofgem’s consultation on reforms to the microbusiness energy market, urging the regulator to act to make energy contracts and the switching process fairer.

In the consultation, Ofgem proposes a series of measures to make the broker / third party intermediary (TPI) market fairer, including:

This morning the WRC, CBI  and ACS has presented the Welsh Government with our recommendations to resolve the confusion over non-essential items. We hope government will agree to these recommendations and the people of Wales can refocus all their energies on respecting the Fire Break.

We believe these recommendations will fulfil retail’s role in tackling the spread of the virus while allowing for discretion to be used on an individual basis – as recommended by Health Minister Vaughan Gethin yesterday.

Our recommendations are as follows:

ACS has called on the Welsh Government to drop its ban on so called ‘non-essential’ products ahead of a review of the policy today (Monday).

The calls come after the Welsh First Minister said that retailers could now use their ‘discretion’ around whether or not to sell non-essential goods.

The Welsh Government have now confirmed guidance for retailers on the types of products that can and cannot be sold, just a few hours ahead of the introduction of the firebreak lockdown restrictions at 6pm today.

The Welsh Government states that the products and services which can be sold in stores are any products which would normally be sold in: