Press Office
Chief Executive's Blog
Yesterday I went on Radio 5 Live to discuss the National Minimum Wage – you can hear the interview here, about 1h 47m into Drive Time. My first reflection on listening back to this is that we need to get a new phone at home – it sounds like a David Coleman commentary from a 1970s UEFA Cup tie in Kiev. I also have two other thoughts to share.
Firstly, was I the only one who really hoped that the Low Pay Commission had been giving some consideration to the impact of the National Minimum Wage all along? The Government’s advice that the LPC should be thinking about the impact of any minimum wage increase on jobs is probably part of a positioning exercise in advance of the announcement of the October 2013 rate, but surely no-one can disagree that the impact on business is relevant.
About us
ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is the voice of over 33,500 local shops, supporting our members through effective lobbying, comprehensive advice and innovative networking opportunities.
ACS’ core purpose is to lobby Government on the issues that make a difference to local shops. We represent the interests of retailers on a range of issues, including business rates, energy, regulation, planning, alcohol and many more. All of our submissions to Government can be found here. In 2012, we expanded this lobbying activity to provide authoritative information about the convenience sector through a number of research projects.
All press enquiries should be directed to:
Shane Brennan, Public Affairs Director
01252 515001 / 07921 372978
shane.brennan@acs.org.uk
Chris Noice, Communications Manager
01252 515001
chris.noice@acs.org.uk
If you would like to be added to ACS’ press release list please contact Chris Noice either via email specifying whether you would like to receive trade news, national news or both, or by calling 01252 515001.
Our latest releases are below.
Shopkeepers Sacrificing Own Wages to Keep Stores Open
Figures released by the Association of Convenience Stores have revealed that store owners are sacrificing their own wages by taking home less than the minimum wage to keep their stores open and pay staff.
The Voice of Local Shops Survey, which polled over 1,100 independent retailers across the country, has revealed that 55% of shop owners believe that when compared to the number of hours they work, they currently earn less than the minimum wage from their business (currently £6.19 per hour). Furthermore,…
Read More »
ACS Seeks Clarity on Change to Law on Shop Theft
ACS has urged Ministers to explain to MPs how proposals contained in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Policing and Crime Bill will not lead to fewer prosecutions of shop theft offences.
The Bill, which will be debated by MPs for the first time today, contains a clause (clause 133) that seeks to change the status of any shop theft where the value of goods stolen amounts to less than £200 to a ‘summary’ offence; thereby removing the prospect of the case being heard in Crown Court.
If passed this change in… Read More »
Parking Nightmare for London Convenience Store Retailers
Figures released today by ACS have shown that London retailers are the hardest hit by parking regulations in the UK, and that their businesses are suffering as a result.
The Voice of Local Shops survey, which polls 1,100 independent retailers in England, Scotland and Wales found that nationally, 40% of convenience store retailers said that a lack of available parking for their customers had a negative effect on their business. However, in London, 71% of retailers believed that their business had been negatively affected by… Read More »