All ACS articles – Page 23
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News
ACS presents evidence on National Living Wage
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has presented evidence to the Low Pay Commission on the impact of the National Living Wage, urging the Commission to consider how sustainable the Government target of 60% of median earnings by 2020 is. Responses from the 2016 ACS National Living Wage survey have ...
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News
ACS welcomes business rates proposals
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has welcomed recommendations from the Department for Communities and Local Government for a more transparent, streamlined appeals process for the business rates system. The proposals came in the ministry’s response to a consultation on reforming business rates. ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We ...
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News
ACS wants more from Ofgem
ACS is calling on Ofgem to introduce a TPI (third party intermediaries) Code of Practice following publication of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) final report on reforms to the energy market. The CMA’s two-year investigation recommended a range of changes to make both the domestic and non-domestic energy markets ...
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News
ACS consults members over living wage
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has launched its 2016 National Living Wage and Minimum Wage survey as part of its evidence gathering process for a submission to the Low Pay Commission. The Commission has been tasked with looking at the impact of the introduction of the £7.20 per hour ...
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News
ACS welcomes retail banking report
A report into retail banking services by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been welcomed by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS). ACS supports the CMA’s provisional recommendations to encourage competition among retail banks, improve transparency in finance offers, and make it easier for businesses to compare and switch ...
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News
ACS warning over Psychoactive Substances Act
New legislation on ‘legal highs’ that came into force today (May 26) has implications for many convenience stores, the ACS has warned. The primary purpose of the Psychoactive Substances Act is to stop the sale of items that are commonly known as ‘legal highs’. However, a new guide on the ...
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News
ACS welcomes planning reform proposals
The Government’s response to a consultation on removing barriers to business growth in the planning system has been welcomed by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS). ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We are pleased that the Government has recognised the need for reform of the planning system to support ...
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News
Engage with new commissioners urges ACS
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) is calling on convenience retailers to engage with their newly elected Police and Crime Commissioners and work with them on raising the profile and importance of crime against their businesses, especially on the issue of penalties for shop theft offences. Ahead of the elections ...
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News
Issa brothers win NACS accolade
Euro Garages co-CEOs Zuber and Mohsin Issa have won a prestigious award presented by NACS (National Association of Convenience Stores) in the US. They have been have jointly named the 2016 NACS Insight European Convenience Industry Leader of the Year, and the award will be presented at the Convenience Summit ...
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News
ACS calls for consistent local enforcement
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has called on the Government to go further in its Red Tape Review to ensure that local authorities are consistent in their approach to enforcement, as well as removing the costly and unnecessary burdens experienced by licensed retailers. In the submission, ACS welcomes the ...
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News
ACS calls for support for rural stores
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has responded to a Department for Communities and Local Government consultation on rural planning, calling on the department to ensure that the planning system supports the growth and retention of rural convenience stores. The submission notes that over a third of stores are based ...
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News
ACS calls for greater engagement
ACS chief executive James Lowman has called on the convenience sector to engage with local decision makers to establish their community credentials and make sure the economic role of local shops is understood. In his introductory remarks at Summit’16, Lowman predicted that local public health interventions on alcohol, tobacco and ...
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News
Greene steps down from ACS board
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has announced that forecourt veteran Mike Greene, its former chairman and now the CEO of the My Local chain of convenience stores, has stepped down from its board. Greene chose to step down as both he and My Local’s trading director Neil Turton were ...
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News
ACS welcomes energy market proposals
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has welcomed proposals to end rollover contracts in the energy market and ensure that small businesses are provided with competitive quotes for their gas and electricity. It was responding to the Competition and Market Authority’s consultation on its energy market investigation. The investigation, which ...
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Analysis
James Lowman - ACS chief executive
The March 2016 Budget is likely to be remembered by the general public for what ended up not happening, notably the review of benefits to the disabled. It may also be remembered for the announcement of the levy on companies selling sugary drinks. I may be a cynic, but I ...
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News
ACS warns of impact of National Living Wage
The National Living Wage, which came into force today (1 April), will have a serious impact on the convenience store sector, the ACS has warned. For all employees aged 25 and over, the new minimum rate of pay will be £7.20 per hour. The Chancellor announced the National Living Wage ...
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News
New NMW will hit investment warns ACS
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has warned that increases in the National Minimum Wage rate for people aged 24 and under will reduce investment and job creation by local shops. The government has accepted and published recommendations by the Low Pay Commission for the following minimum hourly wage ...
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News
ACS slams Osborne over Sunday trading claim
Claims made by Chancellor George Osborne about the link between online shopping and Sunday trading have been shown to be wrong and misguided by new polling, according to the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS). Polling of more than 2,000 consumers in January 2016 showed that two thirds of consumers had ...
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News
Don’t scrap retail rate relief, urges ACS
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has called on the government to outline its plan for meaningful business rates reform and reinstate the Retail Rate Relief scheme as business rates income reaches record levels. The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG ) released figures claiming that business rates income ...
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News
ACS slams bid to justify Sunday trading change
Government attempts to justify relaxing Sunday trading regulations have been ridiculed by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), and it has called on MPs to reject the proposed change. The Department for Business (BIS) published its response to the consultation on liberalising Sunday Trading, but the ACS said it had ...