All ACS articles – Page 29

  • News

    ACS disappointed over business rates

    2012-12-05T00:00:00Z

    The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has criticised the Chancellor’s failure to stop unpredictable business rates hikes in his Autumn Financial Statement. In recent months, ACS has been campaigning for the annual business rates increase to be capped at 2%, in line with the council tax cap and the Government’s ...

  • News

    ACS urges ministers to reconsider alcohol licensing and pricing proposals

    2012-11-28T00:00:00Z

    Ministers are being urged by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) to reconsider proposed changes to alcohol licensing and pricing rules that it believes will have a disproportionate burden on small shops.ACS chief executive James Lowman said: "In the past five years, we haveseen a reduction in alcohol consumption, increased ...

  • News

    Convenience stores are focal point during the floods, says ACS

    2012-11-26T00:00:00Z

    Convenience stores and village shops are open in the areas of the country affected by high winds and flooding overnight, according to the ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores), which has canvassed members and is reporting no significant problems with store closures or deliveries.ACS chief executive James Lowman said: ...

  • News

    ACS presses Government on rates data

    2012-11-13T00:00:00Z

    ACS chief executive James Lowman has today given evidence to the Growth and Infrastructure Bill Committee, urging the Government to give more details on the impact of delaying business rates revaluation by two years.The Government has described the measure – to be introduced as part of the Growth and Infrastructure ...

  • News

    ACS welcomes forward step in campaign for fairer energy market

    2012-10-26T00:00:00Z

    Energy regulator Ofgem has announced its intention to extend protections afforded to ‘micro businesses’ to thousands of additional small businesses, signalling a victory for a key part of the Association of Convenience Store’s ‘Switch to a Fair Energy Market’ campaign. The proposals set strict rules for the information that energy ...

  • News

    ACS urges caution over ban on card surcharges

    2012-10-17T00:00:00Z

    ACS has welcomed government plans to ban above-cost card surcharges, but has warned about the burden on retailers if introduced early. As part of its submission to the Department for Business’ consultation on card surcharges, ACS has highlighted that small businesses would be disproportionately impacted by the early introduction ...

  • News

    ACS calls for action on business rates

    2012-10-16T00:00:00Z

    Reacting to today’s announcement of the Retail Price Index for September 2012, ACS has called on the government to take action to lift the burden on retailers. The rate, announced today as 2.6%, remains higher than the government’s target of 2%. ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Year-on-year ...

  • News

    ACS highlights community value of local shops to MPs

    2012-10-15T00:00:00Z

    Every MP returning to Westminster today will, for the first time, be given comprehensive information about the economic and social value of local shops specific to their constituency. This initiative by the Association of Convenience Stores has been unveiled ahead of ACS’ Heart of the Community Conference taking place next ...

  • News

    ACS calls for freeze of minimum wage rate

    2012-09-17T00:00:00Z

    Eighty two per cent of convenience retailers support a freeze in the national minimum wage rate with two thirds of local shops negatively impacted by increased employment costs, according to new findings from the ACS Minimum Wage Survey.The news has prompted the trade body to call on the Low Pay ...

  • News

    ACS welcomes government rethink on retailer compensation scheme

    2012-09-11T00:00:00Z

    The Government have withdrawn plans that would have removed the right to compensation for many retailers and their staff that suffer minor injuries in incidents of violent crime.The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme provides victims of violent crime compensation in recognition of a sense of public sympathy for the pain and ...

  • News

    Keep Sunday Trading regs says ACS and PRA

    2012-09-04T00:00:00Z

    The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) and Petrol Retailers’ Association (PRA) has called on the government to retain Sunday Trading regulations. The move follows comments made by Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles who suggested the government may review Sunday trading laws when the temporary relaxation of restrictions over ...

  • News

    Local shops among hardest working professionals in Britain, says ACS

    2012-08-30T00:00:00Z

    Figures released from the upcoming ACS Local Shop Report have revealed that small shopkeepers are amongst the hardest working professionals in Britain, with most putting in more than 50 hours a week.The survey shows that 60% of the nation’s convenience store retailers work more than 50 hours in an average ...

  • News

    MPs rally in support of ACS Fair Energy campaign

    2012-08-22T00:00:00Z

    Members of Parliament from all major parties have rallied together to call on the government to take action and stop unfair practices by energy companies.A dozen MPs have already spoken out in favour of the campaign. The latest MP to add her support, Liberal Democrat MP Lorely Burt, said: “Energy ...

  • News

    ACS urges government to keep Sunday Trading regulations

    2012-08-13T00:00:00Z

    ACS has called on the government to retain Sunday Trading regulations, after comments made by Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles suggested the government may review Sunday trading laws when the temporary relaxation of restrictions over the Olympics period comes to an end.ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “The ...

  • News

    Lord Prescott to address ACS crime prevention forum

    2012-08-09T00:00:00Z

    Former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott will address the ACS Crime Prevention Forum in October as part of a session on prospective Police and Crime Commissioners.Labour Humberside candidate Lord Prescott will join Surrey Conservative candidate Julie Iiles and Andrew Smith, Liberal Democrat candidate for Sussex in talking to retailers about ...

  • News

    Retail accounting specialist joins ACS as associate member

    2012-08-08T00:00:00Z

    CV Retail, Retail accounting specialist CV Retail has become an associate member of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS). John Roberts, managing director of CV Retail said: “To demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the convenience store market, we are delighted to be accredited as an associate member of the ACS”. ...

  • News

    ACS welcomes MPs’ rejection of unnecessary alcohol multi-buy ban

    2012-07-19T00:00:00Z

    The Association of Convenience Stores has broadly welcomed the publication of the Health Committee’s report into the government’s Alcohol Strategy. MPs have called on the government to scrap plans to bring in a ban on multi-buy promotions and a sunset clause that would allow for the removal of minimum pricing ...

  • News

    ACS urges retailers to complete Minimum Wage Survey 2012

    2012-07-10T00:00:00Z

    Local shops across the UK are being asked to provide evidence to understand the impact of the national minimum wage and other employment costs. The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) is encouraging retailers to spend a few minutes completing an online survey that probes the effects of an increase in ...

  • News

    ACS and Age UK seminar focuses on catering for older customers

    2012-07-03T00:00:00Z

    Local shops have come together with Age UK charities from across the country to discuss how local shopping can meet the needs of older customers. At the joint ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) and Age UK Seminar James Lowman, ACS chief executive said: “Older customers account for a ...

  • News

    ACS makes submission on tobacco packaging consultation

    2012-07-02T00:00:00Z

    The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has made its submission to the Department of Health consultation opposing the introduction of standardised tobacco packaging in England, Wales and Scotland.The submission sets out concerns about the impact of service times, profitability and highlights concerns that it will fuel the illegal trade.ACS chief ...