All ACS articles – Page 31
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News
ACS seeks data for latest Retail Crime Survey
ACS is calling on retailers from across the convenience sector to complete the 2011 Crime Survey. The survey addresses a range of issues including burglary, crime reporting, robberies and physical violence, and verbal abuse.Every year, ACS gathers information from retailers across the country to reveal the true impact of crime ...
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ACS welcomes Cable’s commitment on Regulatory Enforcement
Local shops have welcomed plans to change the way that businesses experience ‘frontline enforcement’, set out by Business Secretary Vince Cable. Plans include:A review of all regulators, to consider whether they are necessary and working efficiently.Changes to the ‘Primary Authority’ scheme to allow more organisations to participate, benefiting small business ...
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ACS welcomes pro-growth business rates decision
ACS has welcomed the pro-growth initiatives in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, which include a two-year deferral scheme for planned business rates increase in April 2012, extension of small business rate relief until April 2013, a £40bn National Loan Guarantee Scheme, and the deferral of the 3ppl increase in fuel duty.ACS ...
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ACS announces three-point plan to revive flagging high streets
Four out of five MPs support giving communities greater powers to use the planning system to stop their high streets becoming ’clone towns’. These findings are revealed today by the Association of Convenience Stores, as it sets out a three-point plan to revive flagging high streets. ACS represents ...
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ACS welcomes ’long-awaited’ Ofgem crackdown on energy companies
Local shops have welcomed new proposals to protect business customers against unfair energy contracts. The proposals, announced by Ofgem this morning, are due to be part of a consultation which looks to introduce the following measures: Extend protections which currently cover microbusinesses to include businesses with up to ...
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ACS calls for government support on ID scheme
ACS has called on retailers, retail staff and suppliers from across the convenience sector to support the new petition for Government action to support people carrying PASS approved ID. The petition follows increasing reports from cardholders of business owners refusing to accept valid proof of age cards such as CitizenCard and Young Scot. These schemes approved by the Proof of Age Standards scheme are supported nationally by Government, Police and trading standards. However local authorities are often unwilling or powerless to act when businesses refuse to accept these cards. The petition calls on Government to stipulate that PASS approved Cards are acceptable ID through legislation or statutory guidance. ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: "PASS cards are reliable and secure ID. They are available to everyone unlike driving licences and do not present the same risks to the owner from losing them as passports and driving licences. "The industry has invested heavily in PASS and retailers have included the acceptance of PASS cards in their training schemes. It is confusing and unhelpful for businesses to refuse these cards, even if their intention is simply to be strict and avoid mistakes. "The people who lose out are the young people who have made every effort to do the right thing. We believe Government must step in and help end this confusion.”
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ACS challenges deputy PM to delivery on deregulation agenda
At a meeting of small businesses with Nick Clegg this morning, ACS Chief Executive James Lowman called on the Deputy Prime Minister to extend the moratorium on new employment legislation to more businesses, and to reduce burdens from local government and enforcement practices.In his speech, the Deputy Prime Minister proposed ...
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ACS chairman role
Former Forecourt Trader of the Year Jonathan James has been appointed chairman of the Association of Convenience Stores. He will chair the organisation from November 2011 to November 2013.An independent based in Cambridgeshire and operating both forecourts and standalone c-stores, Jonathan is a widely respected figure in the fuel retailing ...
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NewsACS chairman role for Jonathan James
Former Forecourt Trader of the Year Jonathan James has been appointed chairman of the Association of Convenience Stores. He will chair the organisation from November 2011 to November 2013. ***See the Video Interview An independent retailer based in Cambridgeshire and operating both forecourts and standalone convenience stores, Jonathan James is ...
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Town centre policy is crucial to success of new planning framework, ACS tells MPs
The Association of Convenience Stores has called for the support of the influential Communities and Local Government Select Committee as it calls for Ministers to make crucial improvements to the new National Planning Policy Framework.ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Our high streets face a watershed moment the economic downturn ...
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ACS welcomes riot relief package
The Association of Convenience Stores has welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement of a package of measures to help communities and businesses affected by the recent riots in England.ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We called for the extension for claims under the Riot Damages Act from 14 to 42 days ...
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ACS meets with Home Secretary to discuss response to disorder
ACS has called for government to promote the message that ‘people are more important than property’ in a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May yesterday afternoon.The meeting, attended by ACS chief executive James Lowman and other business representatives, was called to discuss the impact of the recent riots across the ...
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ACS urges retailers to stay away from counterfeit alcohol
HM Revenue and Customs are to clamp down on stores suspected of selling counterfeit alcohol with a series of raids across the UK.The operation has been rolled out nationwide after a successful pilot scheme which targeted stores in Peterborough, Newcastle, Lincolnshire and Hertfordshire led to 16 outlets having their alcohol ...
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ACS welcomes red tape cuts
ACS has welcomed Business Secretary Vince Cable’s announcement today that a number of retail regulations will be cut.The proposals are the first results from the Red Tape Challenge, a public consultation that asked businesses and individuals which regulations are unnecessary and should be removed.The proposals include: simplifying the procedures for ...
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ACS to tackle key issues at Forecourt Seminar
The ACS Forecourt Seminar, chaired by Forecourt Trader editor Merril Boulton, aims to give essential insights to forecourt retailers and spark the debate on the most effective ways to succeed in a difficult market. To be held at the Walker’s Stadium in Leicester on July 7, this year’s seminar is ...
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ACS welcomes Lords call for changes to Localism Bill
Peers in the House of Lords have supported calls from the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) to put retail diversity and sustainable development on the face of the Localism Bill.As part of the Bill’s second reading debate in the Lords, Lord McKenzie of Luton told peers that the recently published ...
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Jonathan James backs ACS claims of bullying tactics by energy companies
Former Forecourt Trader of the Year Jonathan James was interviewed about the bullying tactics of energy companies on Radio Cambridgeshire this morning. The interview happened on the day the Association of Convenience Stores revealed how basic rights afforded to domestic customers by energy companies are denied to small businesses, costing ...
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Fuels of the future in focus during ACS Summit11 at IFFE
The Association of Convenience Store’s annual Summit conference will run alongside IFFE this year and features a one-hour breakout session focusing on Fuels of the Future. ACS has partnered with RMI Petrol to give forecourt retailers an exclusive opportunity to debate the prospects of the sector in ...
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ACS delivers Budget advice on local shops to the Chancellor
The Association of Convenience Stores has set out a series of specific policy recommendations that Chancellor George Osborne can deliver for local shops in his Budget next month. ACS also reacted to the commitments made by banks following negotiations with Government about new funding for business lending. ...
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ACS warns of ’perfect storm’ threat to high streets
A perfect storm of aggressive supermarket expansion, poor planning laws and low investment could wipe out hundreds of British high streets, according to James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores. Lowman was addressing a packed audience of forecourt and convenience retailers and suppliers at the Association’s Heart ...