News

Award winning independent retailers, Linda Williams and Ramesh Shingadia, are set to go head to head at ACS Summit 15 in the first ever Battle of the Best.

The feature, debuting at this year’s Summit conference, sees the retailers travelling around the country in search of the best innovations and in-store practices to take back to Birmingham’s NEC – the site of Summit 15. On the day, those in attendance will have the opportunity vote for their favourite, with the winner taking home the coveted title of Battle of the Best champion.

The Scottish National Party have released their full manifesto ahead of the 2015 General Election on 7th May, pledging to make employment fairer for workers and to increase funding for small businesses.

The SNP have pledged to increase the minimum wage to £8.70 per hour by 2020, making a quarter of a million people in Scotland better off by up to £4,000 a year. They also back an increase in the minimum wage rate for 18 to 21 year olds to £6.86 by 2020, applying the same rate to apprentices; and will increase the wage rate for 16 to 18 year olds to £5.07 per hour.

SGF and ACS have expressed strong concerns about proposals to introduce a new licensing objective alongside the extension of overprovision powers in Scotland.

As part of its stage one scrutiny of the Air Weapons and Licensing Bill, the Scottish Parliament Local Government Committee has recommended that a new objective aimed at reducing alcohol consumption should be implemented. This would be in addition to the five licensing objectives which Boards in Scotland currently have to abide by.

We are less than one week away from the industry leading event of the year, ACS Summit, featuring a host of the most inspirational, motivating and knowledgeable speakers sharing their expertise. The conference, taking place on 21st April in Birmingham, is bursting with industry know-how, evolving trends and innovative ideas for retailers to take away to improve their business.

The United Kingdom Independence Party have released their full manifesto ahead of the 2015 General Election, setting out their proposals to cut the cost of business rates for small businesses and to reform planning regulations.

In their manifesto, UKIP have pledged to help small business with a cut to business rates by extending the small business rate relief; and to cut rates by 20% for business with only one property and a rateable value of less than £50,000.

The Liberal Democrat Party have released their full manifesto ahead of the 2015 General Election on 7th May, calling for increased public health regulation and committing to reforming the business rates system.

ACS has announced a host of the finest comedy acts in the UK to provide plenty of laughter at this year’s ACS Variety Night. Combining entertainment, networking and a three course meal, the hugely successful Variety Night will once again be held on the evening of the ACS Summit 15 conference in the Metropole Hilton Hotel, opposite Summit’s NEC Birmingham venue.

Retailers and suppliers are invited to attend this can’t-miss event which kicks off with a drinks reception, followed by dinner and an evening boasting a host of award-winning comedy entertainers.

The Conservative Party have released their full manifesto ahead of the 2015 General Election, setting out their proposals to cut tax for employees on minimum wage and take quick action on business rates.

Regarding business rates, the Conservative Manifesto states that they will deliver a review of the rate by the end of 2015 and implement changes in time for the 2017 revaluation; this is earlier than the proposed review timetable.

The Green Party have released their full manifesto ahead of the 2015 General Election on 7th May, calling for increased public health regulation and the replacement of business rates with land value tax.

The Labour Party have released their full manifesto ahead of the 2015 General Election, calling for action on low pay and tougher sentences for those who assault shop workers.

On the issue of low pay, Labour have affirmed their commitment to increase the National Minimum Wage to £8 per hour by October 2019, and have set out proposals to reform the way the Low Pay Commission works. Labour also intend to require publicly listed companies to state whether they pay employees the living wage, and incentivise the payment of the living wage through tax rebates.