News

ACS has welcomed commitments made by the Government in today’s Queen’s Speech to regenerate town centres and high streets, and protect the millions of people in the UK who still use cash every day. 

One of the headline Bills announced in the Queen’s Speech was the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. Measures to be proposed in the Bill, which follow the Levelling Up White Paper published in February this year, include: 

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Their team of Google-qualified experts make sure your products are seen by customers nearby, saving you time and money managing complex marketing tools - and increasing your in-store revenue. 

There is now less than a week to register for this year's Technology Showcase, taking place online on 10th May. 

The Technology Showcase provides a unique opportunity for suppliers to showcase new technology solutions that have either been recently launched, or will be launched in the future, and for retailers to get a first look at emerging technologies that could take their businesses to the next level. 

The following companies have been selected by ACS’ Independent Board and have been shortlisted to demonstrate their product or service at the event:

ACS has welcomed the passing of a new law this week which brings into force tougher penalties for those who attack shopworkers.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act received Royal Assent on April 28^th, with new provisions coming into force to make attacking an individual who serves the public an aggravated offence. This follows years of campaigning from groups like ACS and USDAW to better protect shopworkers who face abuse when doing their job.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has raised concerns about proposals from the Scottish Government to tighten the rules on the advertising and promotion of vaping products, including restrictions on in-store displays.

The Scottish Government is consulting on new regulations on the advertising and promotion of vaping products to ensure they are only used as an aid to stop smoking and prevent young people and adult non-smokers from the uptake of these products.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has called on the Government to honour its commitment to introduce legislation to protect access to cash in the Queen’s Speech next month.

A joint letter to the HM Treasury, signed by ACS alongside a coalition of organisations, charities, industry bodies, consumer representatives and MPs, has highlighted the decline in access to and acceptance of cash in the UK.

Which? analysis has found that almost a quarter of free-to-use ATMs have vanished since 2018 and almost half of the UK’s bank branches have closed since 2015.

ACS’ biggest event of the year returned to Birmingham on 26th April to bring together retailers, suppliers and industry experts to discuss and explore what’s happening in the sector and what retailers and suppliers might expect in the future.  
 
The first session, Convenience Now focused on the issues that are currently faced by convenience retailers and how they have been responding to these challenges, from the impact of the pandemic, evolving shopper trends and rising costs both for businesses and consumers.
 
Speakers from this session included:

Book your place at our biggest event of the year, Summit22 - taking place at the Vox in Birmingham on 26th April.

This year’s conference will explore how convenience stores are separating themselves from the competition right now, as well as looking ahead to the future at what the sector could look like in 2030.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has developed a brand-new package of employment resources for retailers, supporting effective recruitment, retention and progression across the convenience sector.

The ACS People Hub has been launched to support members within a competitive labour market and follows the launch of the ACS Wellbeing Guide in September.

The People Hub, accessible via the ACS Member Portal, includes content on:

ACS has announced the shortlist for the 2022 Technology Showcase, taking place as a virtual event on 10th May.

The Technology Showcase provides a unique opportunity for retailers to find out about new technology solutions that have either been recently launched or will be launched in the future by suppliers.

The following companies were selected by ACS’ Independent Board and have been shortlisted to demonstrate their product or service at the event: