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ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the Scottish Parliament’s decision to pass a Bill to create a new statutory offence for assaulting, threatening or abusing a retail worker, particularly those applying or enforcing an age-restriction in relation to the sale or supply of goods or services.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has urged Welsh ministers to work in closer collaboration with retailers when they introduce new measures to tackle the spread of Covid-19. New requirements have been introduced today with no advance notice of changes that businesses need to make immediately.

From today, all retail stores in Wales are required to do the following:

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Anyone with a disability is protected by the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), part of this act covers the failure by businesses to make a reasonable adjustment to allow disabled people access to goods, facilities and services. This includes building entrances and exits (including emergency escape routes), internal and external doors and access to toilet and washing facilities

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the progress of a Bill in Parliament to postpone the next re-evaluation of business rates until 2023.

The Non-Domestic Rating (Lists) (No.2) Bill, would postpone the date on which the next revaluation of business rates in England and Wales takes effect until 1st April 2023. The Scottish Government has also committed to delay its revaluation until the same date.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is encouraging local shops to get involved with a new campaign designed to support those who find it difficult to socially distance.

ACS has responded to a Home Affairs Select Committee consultation on violence and abuse against shopworkers, calling on the Home Office to send a clearer message that offences will not be tolerated.

In its’ submission, ACS states that the Home Office’s response to its Call for Evidence does not go far enough to protect retailers and their colleagues from abuse. Key recommendations in the submission include:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has submitted evidence to the Treasury ahead of the 2021 Budget, calling on the Chancellor to extend the business rates discount in 2021/22 to avoid a ‘sudden shock’ of high rates bills while stores are still dealing with the impact of the pandemic.

In its submission, ACS recommends a minimum 50% reduction in business rates for 2021/22 to taper the reintroduction of rates and avoid a cliff edge spike in operating costs at a time when local shops are still investing in and adapting their businesses to keep customers and colleagues safe.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed an announcement from the Scottish Government that the minimum price of a single use carrier bag (SUCB) is set to increase from 5p to 10p in an effort to help tackle plastic waste.

Environment and Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham confirmed today (13th January) that the increase is scheduled to be implemented from 1st April 2021. The announcement follows a public consultation launched at the end of 2019 by the Scottish Government on ways to develop Scotland’s circular economy.

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ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is calling on retailers to share their experiences of retail crime over the last 12 months in the 2021 Crime Survey.

The survey examines the impact that crime has on the convenience sector, looking at how crime is affecting retailers, the number of incidents experienced and how much crime has cost businesses over the last year. The survey also considers the causes of these crimes and the measures retailers have in place to prevent crime in their stores.