Press Releases

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed an announcement from the Government on the launch of a new watchdog which aims to protect workers’ rights in the UK.

At present, responsibility for tackling modern slavery, enforcing the minimum wage and protecting agency workers is currently spread across three separate bodies.

The introduction of the new watchdog will see the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate and HMRC’s National Minimum Wage Enforcement combined to create a single enforcement body.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has called for the Government to ensure that local shops are supported in the move to meet proposed minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES).

The Government is proposing to introduce an increase in MEES to EPC C by 2027 and EPC B by 2030.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy launched a consultation looking at the framework to implement tighter minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) for privately rented non-domestic buildings.

In its submission ACS makes a number of recommendations, including:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has set out the details of how a deposit return scheme (DRS) should be introduced in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure that it is workable for local shops and does not leave them out of pocket.

ACS has welcomed the publication of a new consultation from energy regulator Ofgem on changes to the way that energy suppliers engage with microbusiness customers.

Measures proposed in Ofgem’s latest consultation would amend the Standard Licence Conditions (SLCs) of energy suppliers to include:

ACS is delighted to announce that the C-Store Collective, a panel of industry-leading consultants, associates and experts, has joined ACS as a new Connect member.

With over 100 years of combined experience, C-Store Collective, co-founded by industry experts John Heagney, Jonathan Rons and Mike Igoe, offers a range of services for its retail partners, including:

ACS has reiterated its calls for the Government to take into account the challenges facing small stores ahead of the introduction of a deposit return scheme (DRS).

Speaking at a meeting of the Tidy Britain All Party Parliamentary Group, ACS Government Relations Director Ed Woodall outlined how a well-designed deposit return scheme could work for the convenience sector.

ACS has welcomed a new report from the Environmental Audit Committee on the introduction of a deposit return scheme, recognising a number of challenges faced by small retailers.

The report follows written and oral evidence sessions from stakeholders including ACS, setting out the Committee’s recommendations for a scheme that is workable and sustainable for all retailers and that has a meaningful impact on recycling rates. These include:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is calling for amendments to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Bill to help the police and criminal justice system tackle repeat offending.

In evidence submitted to the Public Bill Committee on the PCSC Bill, ACS has called for the inclusion of the following measures:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to an inquiry into jobs, growth and productivity after the pandemic, calling for the Government to ensure that support for local shops is extended beyond the pandemic to enable recovery and growth in the convenience sector.

The inquiry was launched by the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee to examine how the Government can reduce and mitigate damage to the labour market and how to improve productivity to support economic growth after the pandemic.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is encouraging local shops to promote their acceptance of cash through the ‘Cash Friendly Pledge’.

Launched today (13th May) by Which?, the ‘Cash-Friendly Pledge’ is a public commitment from retailers which sends the clear message to customers that they can continue to use cash as a payment method in their store.