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Chancellor's High Street Roundtable | Campaign Update from ACT parent company Bira

19 Mar 2026

The Chancellor held a roundtable discussion on a future high street strategy last week, with Bira the sole voice representing smaller retail businesses. Read an update on Bira's place at a... Read more…

Independent bike shop takes stand against selling or repairing e-scooters with police echoing plea

18 Mar 2026

An independent bike shop is refusing to sell or repair e-scooters over concerns about how they are being used, with the area’s police force backing the call and urging others to follow... Read more…

ACT parent company Bira backs calls for online marketplace accountability over dangerous product safety failures

13 Mar 2026

Findings from consumer rights publication Which? add to calls from the E-Bike Positive campaign to better scrutinise these sites and promote quality e-bikes from reputable manufacturers and... Read more…

Independent retailers warn Spring Statement missed opportunity as geopolitical tensions threaten high street recovery

5 Mar 2026

ACT parent company Bira has warned that the Chanellor's Spring Statement offered no new support for high street businesses, as rising tensions in the Middle East threaten to push up energy... Read more…

Scottish bike shop and cafe expands into bigger premises as council recognises 'positive impact on economy'

3 Mar 2026

A Scottish bike repair shop and cafe has recently moved premises into a bigger unit thanks to a growth in business, with the local council noting the positive impact it would have on the local... Read more…

Local Bike Shop Week returns this May, with independent retailers reporting strong benefits from past events

19 Feb 2026

Local Bike Shop Week is approaching, with this year’s celebrations taking place from Sunday 3 May to Saturday 9 May 2026 - and retailers have highlighted the positive experiences they've... Read more…

Independent bike shops unite for inaugural Local Bike Shop Week celebration

17 Feb 2026

A week to celebrate and highlight the expertise and passion of independent bike shops across the UK is set to be held this May.
Read more…

ACT part of coalition letter calling for consultation on online VAT reform

16 Feb 2026

A 18-strong coalition of business organisations and tax experts, including the ACT and led-by its parent company Bira, has today written to the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury calling for a... Read more…

Government's pub-only business rates package is "poor decision based on politics", ACT parent company Bira says

29 Jan 2026

The government's decision to give pubs a 15% business rates discount while excluding independent retailers is a "poor decision based on politics rather than what is good for the local economy",... Read more…

Independent retailers demand equal treatment as Government prepares pub rates relief

9 Jan 2026

ACT parent company Bira has has demanded equal treatment for small shops after the government announced plans to water down business rate rises for pubs.
Read more…

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Expanding Instagram Reels and lots more in the social media news

Posted on in Business News, Cycles News

If you're a fan of Instagram Reels and can't get enough of them, then worry not as changes are afoot to expand the feature. There is always so much happening in the world of social media, it can feel like a uphill struggle to keep up. Maybe* have collated the latest social media happenings so you can stay in the loop so read on for the latest social media news.

Join in the conversation with us over in the Maybe* Facebook group to talk all things social!

TikTok is testing a Snapchat-style stories feature

On a long enough timeline, every social media app trends to adding stories, and now it's apparently TikTok's turn: the popular video app is experimenting with a new stories feature. The feature was highlighted by Matt Navarra on Twitter, and a TikTok spokesperson confirmed the test in an email to The Verge.

The new feature, simply called "TikTok Stories," appears to work similarly to other stories functions on apps like Instagram or Snapchat. Stories live in a newly added slide-over sidebar, where you'll be able to see stories posted by accounts that you follow on TikTok for 24 hours before they're automatically deleted. Other users will be able to react and comment on your story, too. And just like on Instagram and other platforms, you'll also be able to tap on a user's profile picture to load a story.

 

Instagram adds new examples of top brand creative to its professional dashboard element

Instagram is looking to help brands improve their posting approach by highlighting top examples of both organic and promoted posts from other businesses in the app, which may help to spark creative thinking and consideration.

The new element has been added to Instagram's Professional Dashboard, which it launched back in January, and is accessible within the app to those who have Business and Creator accounts.


Twitter reacts to fleets being gone

And just like that, one Twitter feature is on the way out.

On Tuesday (Aug. 3), Twitter officially discontinued their fleets, which was a feature that gave users the option to post images, videos or screenshots of their tweets to an Instagram story-esque space above their timeline. With the feature officially removed, Twitter users reflected on the soon-to-be-lost and possibly under-appreciated feature.


Instagram Reels expand to 60 Seconds

In an utterly unsurprising update, Instagram has today announced that the Instagram Reels length limit is being extended from 30 seconds to 60 seconds for all users.


WhatsApp 'view once' brings disappearing photos and videos

WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that allows users to have photos or videos vanish after they are seen.

After the recipient opens the image for the first time, "view once" deletes it, without saving it to a phone.

WhatsApp said the feature was aimed at "giving users even more control over their privacy".

 

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