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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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Help to Grow Scheme due to launch in October - register your interest now

Posted on in Business News, Cycles News

BEISSalisbury high street have reached out to IRC orgs, including the ACT, to seek help getting the message across to SMEs to register interest in the scheme.

Help to Grow: Digital is a new UK-wide scheme to help up to 100,000 UK SMEs over three years to adopt digital technologies that are proven to increase firm-level productivity.   ​​

The Chancellor announced Help to Grow: Digital at Budget 2021 on 3 March and the scheme will be launched in autumn 2021. ​​

Help to Grow: Digital will offer free impartial advice and guidance via an online platform to help SMEs identify their digital technology needs, assess technology purchasing options and implement new technologies in their operations.​​

Help to Grow: Digital will also offer SMEs a voucher covering up to half of the costs of preapproved, new-to-firm digital technology solutions up to a maximum of £5,000. ​​

The voucher will be available to UK businesses with between 5 and 249 employees that have been trading for more than 12 months. ​​

The voucher will initially provide financial discounts to SMEs for digital customer relationship management, accountancy and e-commerce solutions.​​

 

Vision for Help to Grow: Digital

Tackling part of UK productivity gap by driving successful SME take up of productivity enhancing software

Creating opportunities for SMEs that have already adopted technology during Covid 19 to go further in their digital journey

Providing a slick customer experience that brings a fragmented technology market into one place

Improving the adoption rate of technology from the current ca. 50%.

 

Objectives for Help to Grow: Digital

  1. Provide Value for Money and measurable impact
  2. Tackle SME financial barriers to tech adoption
  3. Tackle SME information barriers to tech adoption
  4. Make it easy for SMEs to access advise and support
  5. Support and incentivise the existing digital technology market to better work for SMEs

 

For more information or to register your interest, please visit helptogrow.campaign.gov.uk/.

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