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Barber shop proves it's a cut above the rest picking up coveted British retailers award

2 Sep 2025

A barber's shop in Northern Ireland has proved that it's a cut above the rest by picking up the inaugural Love Your High Street Award 2025, following a public vote that attracted over 2,230... Read more…

Independent retailers face Fresh challenges as UK inflation climbs to 3.8%

20 Aug 2025

ACT parent company Bira has expressed serious concern following today's announcement that UK inflation rose to 3.8% in July, higher than the expected 3.7% and marking the tenth consecutive month... Read more…

Bike industry continues to face challenges as profits and forecasts falter at Giant, Canyon and Shim

14 Aug 2025

The global bike industry remains under pressure as Shimano, Giant and Canyon all report weaker profits and subdued outlooks for 2025.
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ACT to join industry leaders at brand new cycling trade event this September

13 Aug 2025

The ACT is set to be in attendance at the inaugural Cycling Industry News Live (CIN Live) trade show, which is set to bring together industry-wide education, market insight and product showcases... Read more…

Independent retail crisis deepens as nearly half see sales plummet compared to last year

12 Aug 2025

Britain's high street crisis has deepened dramatically with nearly half of independent retailers, including many in the independent cycling retail sector, reporting sales have crashed compared... Read more…

Independent retailers slam £5.9bn "de minimis" import loophole as Government delays action

11 Aug 2025

ACT parent company Bira has condemned the Government's inaction over the "de minimis" import loophole following a Sky News investigation revealing £5.9 billion worth of cheap imports... Read more…

Criminals undermining legitimate retailers as trading standards collapse

7 Aug 2025

Bira has warned that criminals are undermining legitimate retailers as trading standards services collapse, following a new Which? investigation.
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ACT welcomes Government's new product safety laws

23 Jul 2025

A leading cycle traders association has backed the government's move to protect consumers from dangerous products sold through online marketplaces, following Royal Assent of the Product... Read more…

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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New Conservative Party chairman writes responds to NFSP DVLA petition.

Posted on in Business News

The National Federation of Subpostmasters has received a response from new Conservative party chairman Richard Holden MP regarding the petition to keep DVLA services in post offices.

DVLA Postoffice petirion

A petition with 100,000 signatures was presented to Downing Street by the NFSP earlier this month. Six million people use the Post Office network for accessing DVLA services each year and the NFSP is calling on government to reverse its decision to remove DVLA services from the network from the end of March next year.

Mr Holden wrote:

“In terms of DVLA services, an extension to the current contract with the Post Office Ltd has been agreed to ensure that DVLA services will be available at post offices until the end of March 2024.

“The DVLA wants its customers to be able to access its services as quickly and easily as possible and is considering the role that face-to-face counter services will play in the future, utilising cross-government agreements where possible.

“I can assure you the government recognises how important post offices are to communities and more than £2.5 billion in funding has been provided to support the Post Office network over the past 10 years, with a further £335 million between 2022 and 2025. This package includes funding of £50 million a year to ensure the viability of rural and community branches.

“However, Post Office Ltd is a commercial business operating at arm’s length from government. While the Department of Business and Trade sets the high-level parameters for the Post Office as set out in the Post Office Articles of Association, it is the Post Office’s Chief Executive, together with the Board of Directors who are responsible for running Post Office Ltd.’s day-to-day and taking commercial decisions.

“The Department for Business and Trade’s long-standing position is not to involve itself in Post Office’s commercial decisions. This is the position whether Post Office Ltd is negotiating with a private company or with another part of government.

The NFSP has extended the petition deadline to Monday 8 January. Please continue to share the online petition here. Offline petition forms can be found here.

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