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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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Scots butcher shop loved by Royals recalls 'cheery' Queen

Posted on in Business News, Cycles News

The owner of a butcher ‘s shop in Ballater, Aberdeenshire has told the Daily Record of his shock at the death of the Queen, who was an often-seen figure in the town near Balmoral.

John Sinclair, the co-owner of HM Sheridan, told the newspaper how he only saw the Queen three weeks ago and recalled her once popping into the shop for a chat. He said the Queen had been in the shop twice, once after flooding and another just to say hello.

John said: "I met the Queen about six times, she's been in the shop twice, after the flooding and when she just popped in to say hello. The last time I met her was three weeks ago, she looked a bit frail but for a lady of 96 that's not surprising.

"She was quite cheery and she had a smile on her face. It was at the castle Highland Games, we introduced a game called Balmoral Stones and got two stones of 35kg each for people to carry 70 yards, one of the stones was engraved with the dates of the jubilee.

"You'd not expect someone to be working at 96, I still find it really hard to believe. The whole village is feeling pretty down. You don't know what the next generation will be like, this area would miss the Royal family if they didn't come back to Deeside.”

"They have done a lot to support this area. Princess Anne comes in the shop regularly wearing a Barbour jacket and jeans.

"I think the Queen was quite low maintenance, up here they were just a normal couple and made their own tea. They are just a normal family as well."

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