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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.
Read more…

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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New research reveals the best cities in the UK for independent retailers.

Posted on in Business News

Research by global fintech company SumUp has revealed the best cities in the UK for independent businesses.

Old street

By looking at the top ten industries for independent businesses and assessing how many there are in each city, they have created a list of the top ten locations. Each city was assigned a final index score and ranked accordingly.

London tops the list as the best city for fostering and thriving as an independent business with a total score of 13.45. London is packed with historic antique stores, as well as many new independent restaurants and cafes. It’s home to the most independent coffee shops, and with as many as 166. The streets are also packed with quirky one-of-a-kind shops with areas such as Shoreditch, Notting Hill, or Marylebone ideal if you’re searching for unique items in the city. 

Next up on the UK list is Bristol, which follows closely behind with a score of 12.05. Bristol has a similarly vibrant independent shopping scene, where you can find stores specialising in everything from plants and jewellery to artisan coffee. Many of Bristol’s shopping streets are adorned with independent boutiques, and if you’re searching for distinctive items in the city, head to The Galleries or The Arcade. Bristol also ranks particularly high for the number of independent takeaways, with as many as 143 dotted around the city. 

Birmingham claims the third spot on the list, with a total score of 11.55. The independent business scene in Birmingham is rapidly growing, and shoppers are spoilt for choice with a range of regal looking arcades. The great Western Arcade and Piccadilly Arcade feature an array of small independent stores waiting to be explored. Bristol is also high up on the list for the number of independent barbers, with as many as 198 in the city.

In the penultimate spot for the UK is Glasgow, which has a total score of 11.45. Glasgow is home to a thriving creative scene, and its independent shops reflect this liveliness. The Hidden Lane, for example, is home to a mix of independent studio shops selling fashion, art, and homeware. Glasgow also has an impressive 102 independent bakeries, and there’s a high demand for sweet treats in the city. 

Last up on the list for the UK is Leeds, with a total score of 11.35. There’s no shortage of independent businesses in Leeds, and there’s multiple unique stores scattered around the city. The Corn Exchange is perhaps the central hub for independent shopping in Leeds, with its impressive collection of unique vendors, independent jewellers, and record stores. Leeds is also home to 140 independent nail salons.

The cities that failed to make the top 10 include popular tourist destination Nottingham which placed in 13th and Brighton surprisingly placed in 15th place, despite being known for independent businesses across The Lanes.

Corin Camenisch, product marketing lead, at SumUp commented: “Whilst the sheer number of independent businesses in each city is a crucial part of our research, the quality of the businesses reflected by customer reviews is a powerful indicator of both success and satisfaction within each city.”

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