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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.
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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.
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Christmas and New Year message from ACT Director Jonathan Harrison

23 Dec 2025

An end of year message from Jonathan Harrison, Director of the ACT.
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Scottish Government urged to cut business rates for indie retailers

11 Dec 2025

ACT parent company Bira has called on the Scottish Government to follow Wales's example and introduce genuine business rates reductions for retail premises ahead of the Scottish Budget on 13... Read more…

Independent retailers to see rates bills soar by up to 15% despite government's "transformation" promises

2 Dec 2025

Independent retailers across the UK are facing business rates increases of up to 15% next year despite government promises of the "lowest tax rates since 1991", ACT parent company Bira has... Read more…

UK's E-Bike Positive campaign to be adopted by the BA & ACT

1 Dec 2025

As of Thursday 1st January 2026, the E-Bike Positive campaign will fall under the joint guardianship of the Bicycle Association (BA) and the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT).
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Cycle to work scheme escapes cap but ACT warns Budget fails cycle retailers on business rates and imports

26 Nov 2025

The ACT has welcomed the Government's decision not to impose a cap on the cycle to work scheme, calling it "common sense prevailing" after weeks of speculation threatened a vital sales tool for... Read more…

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Activate Cycle Academy to open a new north-east Cytech training facility

Posted on in Business News, Cycles News

CACAytech training provider Activate Cycle Academy (ACA) is opening a new cycle mechanics training workshop in Darlington, County Durham.

Based within ZyroFisher's Head Office, one of the country's leading distributor of cycle parts, accessories and clothing, this brand new workshop is the latest addition to the expanding number of Cytech training workshops.

Cytech ZyroFisher

From left to right: Jonathan Harrison (ACT), Suzanne Read (ACA), Tom Ainscough (ZyroFisher), Rob Haycock (ZyroFisher), Jack Swain (ACA), Nancy Buckley (ACA).

Managed by the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT), Cytech's mission is to raise the standard of professional cycle technicians across the globe. The first-rate training facilities now operate in four continents and new workshops are expected to double by the end of 2022.

Matt Grant, Sales and Marketing Manager at ACA said "We've been looking at opening a training centre in the north-east area for a while now, and when the opportunity arose to utilise some space within ZyroFisher we just couldn't say no. Cytech remains the leading training and accreditation scheme for technicians within the cycle industry with demand growing significantly year on year, so the increase in training capacity that the new workshop will bring will help us better serve the industy."

Rob Haycock, CEO at ZyroFisher adds, "The new facility at our Darlington HQ is ACA's fifth workshop in England, and the second they have opened in the past 12 months. We are excited to be able to provide this purpose-built workshop which offers the very latest state-of-the-art cycle maintenance training facility. All trainees can expect to be working with, training on and using the very latest tools from Unior and equipment from some of the world's finest bicycle manufacturers and brands when they attend a Cytech course."

Cytech ZyroFisher Workshop Suzanne Read, Operations Manager at ACA comments, "We have experienced a three-fold increase in the number of apprenticeship enrolments in the past 12 months, so this new workshop will better serve and cater for the training needs for all our apprentices and local bike shops in the north-east area. A more northern based workshop is something we've been looking to bring online for a number of years, I am glad that it is finally coming to fruition!"

The new Darlington workshop is due to open for practical training on the 21st February 2022. The Cytech journey begins with Theory one online; to celebrate the new location and until the end of February, Cytech are offering £30 off the UK Theory one online course which can be completed online and in your own time, to get you started with your journey. The Theory one distance learning course precedes the Technical one practical course and the two together combine to give you the full Cytech Technical one qualification. For more information head over to the Theory one website: cytechtheoryone.co.uk and to access the discount just use the promo code DARLINGTON at the payment review page. Offer expires 28/02/2022.

For the practical Cytech courses that follow Theory one the dates for the new Darlington workshop have been released. For more details, please contact the ACA sales team on 01865 550324, email: cycles@activatelearning.ac.uk or, check out their website; https://activatecycleacademy.com/cytech-courses/.

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