News

ACS’ industry leading Assured Advice scheme is now available for retailers in both England and Wales, with a new version of the tobacco display ban guide for retailers in Wales being published today.

ACS is encouraging retailers to follow Assured Advice on the tobacco display ban to ensure compliance with the regulations. By signing up to Assured Advice (free of charge for ACS members), retailers cannot be challenged by local enforcement agencies if they are following the guidance set out through Assured Advice.

Well that was a surprise wasn’t it?  I had predicted that the Conservatives would get most votes, but like everyone else who had an opinion on the election – including Conservative strategists and pollsters – I didn’t expect to see a majority Tory government.  So what does this mean for our sector?

ACS has launched an easy-to-read manifesto guide depicting how the main political parties’ pledges will affect local shops.

The guide compares the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, SNP, Plaid Cymru, Green Party and UKIP’s promises to see how they line up on key issues affecting small business, including: business rates, employment, public health, high streets and more.

Independent convenience retailer, Amit Patel, owner of Belvedere News and Wine, hosted a small business hustings event at Belvedere Community Centre in his store’s Erith & Thamesmead constituency.

Amit arranged the hustings event to allow local small business owners to question the constituency’s prospective MPs about pressing issues affecting their businesses and raise awareness of their concerns within the local community.

Independent convenience retailer, Jinx Hundal, was joined by his shop’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidates (PPC) at his One Stop store in his local constituency of Norwich South on 28^th April.

Jinx invited his store’s PPCs to visit his store to discuss the important role that his shop plays within the local community and to discuss pressing issues which affect his business on a day-to-day basis.

Independent retailer, Mo Razzaq, recently invited his Prospective Parliamentary Candidate to his Mo's Family Shopper store to discuss some of the key issues that have been affecting his business ahead of the election.

Mo invited Tom Greatrex, the Scottish Labour & Co-operative Party Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Mo’s store in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, to his store to highlight the important role that local shops play within the community and economy.

The UK general election is now just over a week away, providing retailers with the perfect opportunity to show their store’s prospective candidates the important role convenience stores play in the local community and economy.

ACS is encouraging retailers to sign up for Assured Advice and benefit from industry leading best practice on a range of issues affecting a convenience store business.

Assured Advice has been developed for convenience store owners by ACS and Surrey County Council. By signing up to ACS’ Assured Advice primary authority scheme and following the guidance, your store procedures must be respected by ALL local enforcement officers including environmental health, police and trading standards – but you must sign up to the scheme to benefit from this privilege.

ACS chief executive, James Lowman has set out the key issues likely to be facing convenience stores after the election at this year’s ACS Summit conference in Birmingham on 21^st April.

Mr Lowman highlighted business rates, the national minimum wage and the public health agenda as three areas where engagement on both a local and national level will be essential to the growth of the convenience sector, whoever forms the next government on May 7^th.