Other News

Jun 30

ACS Backs MPs’ Call for New Employment Bill

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed a new report from the Work and Pensions Committee, urging the Government bring forward the Employment Bill to enhance the rights of workers in the low-paid and gig economy.

The report calls on the Government to develop a strategy for responding to long-term changes in the labour market, looking at wellbeing, skills, technology, and the availability of labour.

Findings from ACS’ 2020 Local Shop Report reveal that convenience stores provide local, flexible and secure jobs for around 412,000 people across the UK.

Jun 30

ACS: Rates Changes Welcome But Should Not Place More Burdens on Businesses

A new consultation has been launched by HM Treasury, proposing a framework for moving towards three-yearly revaluations of business rates from five-yearly and simplifying the appeals system.

The consultation proposes a number of new requirements on retailers, including:

Jun 29

Landmark Home Affairs Committee Report Calls for Urgent Action to Tackle Abuse of Retailers

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed a new report from the Home Affairs Committee on violence and abuse towards retail workers, which urges the Government to do more to protect people working in local shops.

The Committee’s Inquiry into violence and abuse against retail workers, chaired by Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, was launched in December 2020, and took evidence from ACS, USDAW, the BRC, Boots and others during a series of evidence sessions earlier this year.

Jun 18

ACS: Cautious Approach Needed to Future Wage Rates

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is calling for a cautious approach to increasing the National Living Wage (NLW) and other statutory minimum wage rates in 2022/23 to allow the labour market and economy to recover from the impact of the pandemic.

Informed by ACS’ National Living Wage Survey 2021, ACS’ submission recommends that the Low Pay Commission (LPC) should consider extending the timetable for NLW reaching two-thirds of median earnings by 2024, which is currently projected to be £10.33.

Findings from ACS’ National Living Wage Survey 2021 show that:

Jun 14

ACS Encourages Local Shops to Get Involved in Loneliness Awareness Week

Taking place between 14^th - 18^th June, Loneliness Awareness Week aims to encourage people to continue to reach out and support those who may be feeling lonely, even as lockdowns lift and to reinforce the importance of social connections.

Jun 09

ACS: Government Announces New Watchdog to Protect Workers’ Rights

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.

Jun 09

ACS: Government Must Support Local Shops to Improve Energy Efficiency

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:

Jun 07

Deposit Return Scheme Must be Cost Neutral For Local Shops

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.

Jun 01

ACS: Time for Ofgem to Implement Long Overdue Energy Reforms for Microbusinesses

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:

May 28

ACS: C-Store Collective Joins as New Connect Member

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:

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