ACS (Association of Convenience Stores) has warned that rising and increasingly unpredictable business rates bills are making it harder for local shops to invest in their businesses and continue offering the services their communities rely on. With tight margins and rising operational costs, many retailers are finding that higher fixed bills leave less room for improvements, hiring support staff, and essential local services.
The Association of Convenience Stores has written to Exchequer Secretary Dan Tomlinson MP, making the case for independent retailers to be included in any additional support measures currently being drafted by the Treasury.
In the letter, ACS outlines the effect of changes first announced in the Budget which will remove the remaining 40% Covid relief on rates bills for local shops and other retail, hospitality and leisure businesses whilst also leaving retailers to face the prospect of significantly higher bills as a result of the 2026 rates revaluation.
ACS has submitted evidence to the Treasury ahead of the Budget on Wednesday 26th November, calling on the Chancellor to go as far as possible to support convenience retailers via the business rates system and back responsible businesses by funding more enforcement against the illicit trade.
ACS has submitted evidence to the Treasury ahead of the Budget on Wednesday 26th November, calling on the Chancellor to go as far as possible to support convenience retailers via the business rates system and back responsible businesses by funding more enforcement against the illicit trade.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has launched a new campaign urging retailers to write to their local MP calling for action on business rates in the Autumn Budget.
Ahead of the Budget, ACS is calling on the Government to:
ACS has welcomed the progress of a Bill in parliament that could introduce a permanently lower business rates multiplier for convenience stores and other retailers.
The Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill passed its third reading in parliament on Wednesday evening, with the Commons voting 341 to 171 in favour of the Bill.
ACS Government Relations Director Edward Woodall has given evidence to a Committee of MPs in parliament today, responding to a Bill aimed at giving retailers and hospitality businesses more relief on their business rates.
The Welsh Government has announced plans to proceed with an Order to remove Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) from ATMs as of April next year.
The decision follows a consultation launched by the Welsh Government which sought views on the Non-Domestic Rating (Small Business Relief) (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2019 and the provision of free-to-use ATMs and access to cash in Wales.
Alongside ten other business groups, ACS has written to the Welsh Finance Secretary Rebecca Evans AM urging her to consider more frequent revaluations of business rates in Wales.
The joint letter calls for the Welsh Government to bring business rates revaluations forward to every three years rather than every five years to bring the nation in line with proposals in England and Scotland.
The eleven business groups represent a number of sectors including retail, hospitality, commercial property, construction, and leisure.
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has signed a letter alongside a group of business organisations calling for MPs sitting on the Treasury Select Committee to publish the final report of their business rates inquiry before the Autumn Budget.
The Treasury Select Committee launched its inquiry into business rates in February to scrutinise how Government policy has impacted business and the findings of the inquiry were due to be published next month.
