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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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Butterworth Spengler Brexit Update: ‘Green Cards' for International Travel

Posted on in Business News, Brands & Products News, Cycles News, Creative News, Political News

ButterworthButterworth Spengler Spengler have provided an update on the situation regarding the implications of driving outside the UK if a ‘Brexit' deal is not struck, and how this will affect motor insurance.

As a consequence of leaving the European Union (EU), the UK entered a transition period which ends on 31 December 2020.

In the event that there is no agreement on the future relationship between the UK and EU, it is likely there will be a legal requirement to carry a physical document known as a Green Card when driving in Europe.

 

What this means?

It becomes a legal requirement if you drive your vehicle outside the UK, to carry a Green Card in an EU country or specified EEA countries: - Andorra, Serbia and Switzerland.

The legal requirements of the Green Card system mean that anyone driving abroad under a UK insurance policy must carry a physical Green Card.

Please ensure your drivers are aware they will need to have a hard copy in the vehicle as copies on a phone are not sufficient and will not be accepted.

 

What is a green card?

In non-EU countries, a green card proves that your insurance provides the minimum level of cover required in the country your drivers are travelling in.

Without a green card, drivers may be refused entry to countries outside of the UK.

Green Cards will need to be applied for in advance and one Green Card will be needed for each vehicle registration, regardless of whether it is part of a fleet.

Special attention will also need to be paid to the differences between countries' rules; for example, trailers and vehicles are usually considered one unit within the UK, but in some EU member states there is a need to specifically state the trailer coverage with an identification number.

Travel between Northern Ireland and Ireland is a particular concern, with a significantly higher number of vehicles regularly crossing the border each day when compared with the UK and Continental Europe.

Not having a Green Card means you would not have proof of insurance and would be in breach of the law.

There is also the likelihood that documentation such as Green Cards will be rigorously checked at border check points.

 

Future Agreement?

The outcome of Brexit is still undecided, and therefore it remains to be seen whether these new requirements will be put into place or a different set of rules will be needed to be followed.

 

What do you need to do?

Please contact Butterworth Spengler as soon as possible with details of any intended trip abroad after 31st December. They can then contact your insurers to make arrangements for the issue of the Green Card for your trip.

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