News

In the lead up to Christmas and New Year’s Eve, ACS is urging retailers to ensure that they are aware of products that have age restrictions on them.

The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee has published the findings of its inquiry into the sale of energy drinks, concluding that there is insufficient evidence for a blanket age restriction on the products.

ACS has welcomed the publication of new guidance from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the details of how business rates discounts first announced in this year’s Budget will be allocated.

During the Budget on October 29^th, Chancellor Philip Hammond announced that businesses with a rateable value of under £51,000 would receive a 1/3 discount on their rates bills.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is supporting the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) which takes place today (December 3^rd).

IDPD aims to raise awareness about the barriers that people living with disabilities face and this year’s theme is “Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”.

ACS is encouraging convenience store retailers to get involved with Small Business Saturday 2018, taking place this Saturday (December 1st)

Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots campaign which actively encourages shoppers to ‘shop local’ and support the small businesses in their local communities. The campaign is now in its sixth year and aims to have a lasting impact on small businesses.

Last year’s campaign was the most successful yet, and highlights included:

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.

Home Office Minister Victoria Atkins has agreed to meet with retail representative bodies and trade unions to discuss violence against retailers and shopworkers following amendments tabled to the Offence Weapons Bill by David Hanson MP.

In a letter to the Treasury, ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is calling for the implementation of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT to be delayed until 2020, following a report from the House of Lords Economic Affairs Finance Bill Sub Committee.

MTD is changing the way retailers submit their VAT return from April 2019, 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.

The Low Pay Commission has published a report outlining their recommendations for the April 2019 National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates. The report evaluates the impact of the NLW so far and found that as many as 5 million people benefited from the increase in April 2018.

ACS is encouraging convenience store retailers to get involved in Small Business Saturday 2018, taking place on December 1^st.

Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots campaign which actively encourages shoppers to ‘shop local’ and support the small businesses in their local communities. The campaign is now in its sixth year and aims to have a lasting impact on small businesses.

Last year’s campaign was the most successful yet, and highlights included: