News
Finance Committee: Delay Making Tax Digital for Small Businesses
ACS has welcomed a report from the House of Lords Economic Affairs Finance Bill Sub-Committee, which urges HMRC to delay the mandatory introduction of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT from April 2019 until at least 2020.
MTD is changing the way retailers submit their VAT returns, requiring them to keep their VAT records digitally and use software to submit returns. The policy reforms aim to reduce the tax gap and help businesses have a more accurate overview of their tax affairs.
Read MoreACS Responds to Energy Drink Consultation
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to the Department of Health and Social Care’s consultation which proposed to introduce a legal age restriction for energy drinks.
In the submission, ACS set out that if the government decides to introduce a legal age restriction for energy drinks that they will work with the government to promote compliance in the convenience sector through its Assured Advice scheme, which is approved by Surrey and Buckinghamshire Trading Standards.
Read MoreACS Urges Retailers to Share Experiences of Crime in 2019 Crime Survey
ACS is calling on retailers to share their experiences of retail crime over the last 12 months as part of the annual ACS Crime Survey 2019.
The survey looks at the impact that crime is having on retailers’ businesses, including the number of incidents they have experienced and how much crime has cost their business in the last 12 months. The survey also considers the causes of these crimes and the measures retailers have in place to prevent crime in their stores.
Read MoreChief Executive's Blog: Brexit
So what do you think’s going to happen, then? No deal, no Brexit, Theresa May’s deal, or some other option as yet undefined? It’s a big part of ACS’ job to be the fulcrum between what happens in politics and what happens in your business, and I think we’re pretty good at providing new and informed analysis to you, and giving credible and evidence-based input to government when it comes to issues related to our sector. On Brexit, frankly, this is a lot harder. It’s the biggest, and certainly the most fever-pitched debate and development in British politics in a generation, and one which cert
Read MoreBook Your Place at ACS' Security Showcase!
ACS’ Security Showcase, taking place on 21st November at the bet365 Stadium in Stoke, will give retailers the opportunity to hear from suppliers about the latest crime prevention equipment and how it could reduce crime in their stores.
Crickhowell Crowned High Street of the Year
The winners of the 2018 Great British High Street Awards (GBHS) have been announced. The awards, run by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and sponsored by Visa, recognise and celebrate the local achievements of the nation’s high streets.
The independent judging panel selected the shortlisted finalists for the Champion and Rising Star awards. These 38 shortlisted finalists were visited by GBHS judges to assess who would be crowned the winners of the 2018 Awards and the public given the chance to vote for their favourite high street.
Read MoreACS Welcomes Committee Report Calling for Clampdown on Illegal Hand Car Washes
ACS has welcomed the Environmental Audit Committee’s report into hand car washes, which recommends the government takes further action to tackle illegal hand car wash operators.
The report recommended: “To make enforcement easier, the Government should trial a licensing scheme for hand car washes that brings together all of the major compliance requirements, including on environmental pollution, into a single, more easily enforceable, legal requirement.”
Read MoreACS: Government Must Protect Shop Workers from Abuse
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) is calling on the government to introduce new protections for shop workers.
ACS is supporting David Hanson MP’s amendment to the Offensive Weapons Bill that would introduce additional protections for shopworkers who are abused or suffer violent attacks when refusing sales of corrosive substances. The new measures should reflect the protections assaults against NHS workers ‘aggravated’ and therefore receive more scrutiny and punishment from the justice system.
Read MoreACS Urges Retailers to Share Experiences of Crime in 2019 Crime Survey
ACS is calling on retailers to share their experiences of retail crime over the last 12 months as part of the annual ACS Crime Survey 2019.
The survey looks at the impact that crime is having on retailers’ businesses, including the number of incidents they have experienced and how much crime has cost their business in the last 12 months. The survey also considers the causes of these crimes and the measures retailers have in place to prevent crime in their stores.
Read MoreBest Small Shops Winner Announced!
The Main Street Trading Company has won the Best Small Shop Award 2018 at the Best Small Shops competition (BSSC) parliamentary reception today.
The Main Street Trading Company bookshop and café opened in June 2008. The shop’s mission has always been to champion reading and offer customers a wonderful shopping experience. In 2012, the independent retailer developed a barn behind the main shop to create the Deli & Home shop.
The BSSC celebrates the creativity of UK independent retailers and the key role that they play on the high street and in their local communities.
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