News

The 2019 Forecourt Report has revealed the vital role that the UK’s 7,402 forecourt shops play in their local communities, through providing secure local jobs, providing access to essential services and taking time out of the business to support local projects.

More than three quarters (77%) of independent forecourts engaged in some form of community activity over the last year, not just through raising money for charity, but also by sponsoring local teams, being part of litter picks and donating to food banks or other food charities.

The Association of Convenience Stores has announced the appointment of Central England Co-operative Chief Executive Debbie Robinson as its new chair from November, with independent retailer Paul Stone taking on the role of vice chair.

Debbie Robinson will take the place of Sewell Retail Ltd Managing Director Patrick Sewell as chair of the board. Patrick has served as chair since November 2016, and will remain on the ACS board.

ACS has highlighted the serious impact that crime has on colleagues working in the convenience sector at a fringe event during Conservative Party Conference.

The event, Violence against Shopworkers: Breaking the Cycle, was hosted by the Co-Operative Group and looked at how the industry, police and justice system can come together to stop the tide of violence against people working in shops.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has urged the Government to allow the Low Pay Commission to set wage rates based on evidence rather than political pressure in response to an announcement from the Chancellor today (30^th September).

ACS has welcomed the launch of a new initiative from UK Finance which aims to help local communities to identify and secure appropriate access to cash and payment services.

The Community Access to Cash Initiative will provide communities with the opportunity to report gaps in cash provision through their elected officials. The initiative will provide grant support and industry guidance to local communities to improve access to cash and the adoption of alternative solutions where an ATM is not appropriate or required.

Michael Gove has assured the House of Commons that he has met with the retail industry, and that we are ready for a no deal Brexit on 31 October. The first part of that is certainly true: we met with Mr Gove and the Business secretary Andrea Leadsom last week.  How about the second part: is our sector ready for a no deal Brexit?

Book your place at the ACS Forecourt Study Tour featuring the launch of the 2019 Forecourt Report.

Taking place on 3rd October in Edgbaston, this exclusive event is the opportunity for forecourt retailers and suppliers to visit a diverse range of forecourts and hear about the latest developments in the sector.

Stores confirmed so far include:

ACS has called for more to be done to tackle the root causes of retail crime at a fringe event in Labour Party Conference.

The event, Safer Communities, Safer Shopworkers, was hosted by the Co-Operative Party and aimed to find ways to tackle the violence and abuse suffered by shopworkers.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has launched a briefing for the convenience sector to help retailers consider how their business may be affected by the UK leaving the EU with no deal.

The Brexit Readiness Briefing covers three core elements that may be affected in the convenience sector: trading environment, workforce & people and regulations. Each of the sections includes a number of considerations for retailers to think about in relation to their business and suggests some preparations they can make in advance.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed a shadow report by the Loneliness Action Group which calls on the Government to ensure that there is long-term action on the impact of loneliness.

The report 'A connected society? Assessing progress in tackling loneliness' published today (19^th September) makes a number of recommendations, including calls for the government to begin measuring the impact of its policies on loneliness and invest in community spaces and support activities which enable connection.