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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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Bira issues guide to protecting yourself against festive cyber scams

Posted on in Business News

In the age of online shopping, the pursuit of the best deals during the festive season is increasingly common. However, as consumers flock to virtual marketplaces, cybercriminals are seizing the opportunity to exploit vulnerabilities, leading to a surge in scams.

Cyber theft

Working with the West Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre (WMCRC), CDS Defence & Security, Bira has offered guidance to independent retailers on safeguarding against festive cyber scams.

Barclays conducted a study revealing a 22% surge in scams during the festive season, with an alarming £10 million lost to cybercriminals last year. Shockingly, 91% of the British public fails to verify the registration status of unknown companies on Companies House. The 25-34 age group remains the most vulnerable, facing an average loss of £970 per victim during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday period.

In detailed guidance on its website, Bira says scams to beware of include fake order scams; fake tracking numbers; phony websites; fake social media advertisements; fake charities; false discounts, and to be aware of texts and emails with hidden links that, when clicked, install malware on devices for the theft of personal information.

To stay protected, the guidance is to research products and suppliers before making purchases; verify the authenticity of sellers, especially when dealing with in-demand items; exercise caution with big discounts., and to identify potential phishing emails by checking the sender's email domain.

You are advised to report any suspicious activity to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), ActionFraud, or Citizens Advice to contribute to the collective effort against fraud and cybercrime.

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