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Peterborough store selling solely local products looks to expand.

29 Apr 2024

A Peterborough store stocking products solely from local entrepreneurs said it is bucking the High Street trend and looking to expand due to its success.
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BIRA launches ‘High Street Matters’ podcast for independent retailers

29 Apr 2024

BIRA is giving independent businesses across the UK a powerful new resource with the launch of its “High Street Matters” podcast.
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Tesco accused of undercutting local shops via its wholesale business.

29 Apr 2024

The Guardian has reported independent shopkeepers saying prices they pay at Tesco’s cash-and-carry arm Booker are often higher than in Tesco’s stores.
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Get ready to celebrate independent Record Store Day

18 Apr 2024

Independent record stores around the country are preparing to celebrate all things vinyl for this year’s Record Store Day on Saturday April 20th. 
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Indies encouraged to put themselves forward for Retail Business of the Year award.

18 Apr 2024

BIRA, the British Independent Retailers Association, has announced its partnership with this year’s SME National Business Awards., joining the 2024 awards as a leading sponsor, backing... Read more…

Family-run Polesworth fish and chip shop celebrates 40 years in business with half-price chips.

18 Apr 2024

A Midlands fish and chip shop is celebrating 40 years in business and offering half-price chips to mark the milestone.
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Assault of shop workers to be made specific criminal offence

18 Apr 2024

Assaulting a shop worker is to be made a separate criminal offence in England and Wales as part of a government response to a wave of retail crime. 
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New stores helping Cardiff arcades buck retail trends.

18 Apr 2024

Eleven new businesses that have opened in the last year in the historic arcades of Cardiff city centre’s Morgan Quarter, made up of the Morgan and Royal arcades, have helped the arcades... Read more…

Study highlights impact of rising staff costs for convenience retailers.

3 Apr 2024

Research by the University of Stirling and the Scottish Grocers’ Federation has shed light on the impact of rising staff costs on the convenience retail sector in Scotland.
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Independent department stores hitting a sweet spot on local high streets.

3 Apr 2024

With large national chains increasingly disappearing from the high street, Drapers magazine has been looking at how independent department stores are stepping up their offerings to... Read more…

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ACT and ActSmart to meet with business minister Paul Scully to discuss high street initiatives

Posted on in Business News, Cycles News

OParliamentn Wednesday 19th May the ACT and ActSmart, along with other key members of the Independent Retailers Confederation (IRC), will be partaking in a meeting with government officials in regard to the wellbeing of the high street.

The IRC is a well-established organisation, bringing together like-minded trade associations with interests in the small and independent retail sector. The IRC represents c.100,000 independent retailers throughout the UK, creating a growing retail network, committed to the development and sharing of best practice among associations and their members engaged in the independent retail sector. 

The meeting is the third one of its kind, following a conference with Small Business and Enterprise Minister Paul Scully at the end of last year and another one in February. Previous meetings evaluated any lessons that we have so far learned from national lockdowns and ways in which we can move forward from this using government support. Read more about that here.

The lockdown has heavily affected high street retailers, impacting both essential and non-essential retailers in different ways. The ACT has been collating feedback from IBDs in regard to ongoing issues that are being experienced and any queries that we have been unable to find solutions for. This information has then been combined with other IRC member feedback with following topics being agreed upon:

  • Feedback on the re-opening of the high street
  • Landlord Tenants
  • Brexit - Export/ VAT/ Ecommerce and barriers to SMEs
  • Permitted Development Rights

The IRC will be meeting with the minister once again early in the summer. If you would like to provide any feedback or suggestions that could potentially be discussed in the meeting please email info@indieretail.uk.

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