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Small Business Strategy Inquiry 2025 - ACT and Bira call for members to share their voice

20 Jun 2025

The House of Commons Business and Trade Committee has asked the ACT, and its parent company Bira, to help them reach out to small business retailers across the country, for their quick input on... Read more…

Beyond the discount: Restoring integrity to the cycle supply chain

18 Jun 2025

The Association of Cycle Traders believes the time has come for greater accountability throughout our supply chain, writes ACT Director Jonathan Harrison in an article published for BikeBiz.
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Bira welcomes Wales' business rates proposals but calls for key improvements

11 Jun 2025

Bira has welcomed the Welsh Government's consultation on business rate reforms for retail shops, whilst calling for significant improvements to ensure the proposals truly support high street... Read more…

New awards launch to champion Britain's independent high street heroes

9 Jun 2025

Retailers on Britain's high streets are being encouraged to put themselves forward for the first-ever Love Your High Street Awards, designed to celebrate the small businesses that bring... Read more…

"Tectonic shift" in employment law threatens independent retailer viability, warns Bira podcast

6 Jun 2025

Independent retailers are facing a "generational" transformation of employment law that could fundamentally change how small businesses operate, according to the final episode of Bira's first... Read more…

Retailers hope warm weather and bank holidays will boost high street sales

16 May 2025

ACT parent company Bira has said that members are hopeful the warm weather, Easter weekend and upcoming bank holidays will provide a much-needed boost to high street sales.
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Economic growth surges to 0.7%, but "April reality check" looms for high street retailers

15 May 2025

UK economy delivers strongest quarterly performance in a year despite forecasts of business downturn.
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Communities come together for Local Bike Shop Day 2025 celebrations

13 May 2025

Local Bike Shop Day 2025 brought a wave of... Read more…

ACT parent company Bira welcomes Bank of England's latest interest rate cut

8 May 2025

ACT parent company Bira has welcomed the Bank of England's decision to reduce interest rates from 4.5% to 4.25%, calling it a "much-needed boost" for the retail sector, including for cycling... Read more…

ACT parent company Bira responds to Beales' "Rachel Reeves Closing Down Sale" as iconic store makes final protest

8 May 2025

ACT parent company Bira has responded to the news that the 144-year-old Beales department store is staging a "Rachel Reeves Closing Down Sale" in its final weeks of trading, with giant yellow... Read more…

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2019-2020 Scottish Government's Budget

Posted on in Business News

Derek Mackay MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work, has delivered the Scottish Government's Budget for 2019-2020. There are certain elements that are relevant to the convenience sector.

A Deposit Return Scheme for Scotland

The budget has acknowledged that the Scottish Government will be "legislating for an ambitious deposit return scheme that will work for everyone". The budget confirms that £20 million of funding for Zero Waste Scotland will be used to support the design and implementation work for a deposit return scheme.

Business Rates Reliefs

The budget has confirmed that there will be below inflation increases in the business rates multiplier and the continuation of the Small Business Bonus Scheme. Expansions to existing properties are not subject to business rates for 12 months. In 2019, primary legislation will be introduced in order to deliver other recommendations from the Barclay Review including measures to improve administration, fairness and a move to a three-year revaluation cycle.

Public Health

The new budget reiterates the Government's commitment to their respective alcohol and tobacco strategies. The budget highlights the interest and need for consultation of restricting the promotion and marketing of HFSS to tackle obesity. The Government has also committed to delivering "Best Start Foods" which will provide support for low income families to access a healthy and nutritious diet.

Town Centres

The Government is looking to create a £50 million Town Centre Fund to enable local authorities to support the wide range of investments, encouraging town centre to diversify, flourish and become sustainable places for the local communities and visitors to live, work and enjoy. 

Electric Vehicles

The Government is committed to investing £50 million in low carbon transport measures, including the expansion of Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure to support the ongoing target to phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars by 2032.

Town centre 

The budget document is available in full here.

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