{$inpagemarkup}

Search News

Results: 1-10 of 623


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.
Read more…

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.
Read more…

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.
Read more…

Back to news menu

Welsh Government Announce £20m Future Proofing Fund for Retail Businesses in Wales

Posted on in Business News

A number of organisations, including Bira (the British Independent Retailers’ Association), other trade associations, BIDs and unions have met with officials from the Welsh Government to discuss the coming availability of a £20m Future Proofing Fund to help businesses to strengthen their profitability through investment in their business.

welsh Deagon


Available to retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 will be awarded to cover up to 75% of project costs or £10,000, whichever is the lesser amount and it is expected that businesses will fund the remaining 25% from other sources.

The fund will be available for eligible businesses in Wales, either headquartered or having an operating address in Wales, who employ people in Wales.

In a recent press release from Gov.wales, Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said:

“The ongoing cost-of-living and cost-of-doing-business crises continues to present difficulties to businesses across Wales.

These grants will help micro, small and medium sized businesses from the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors to make some significant changes in the way they run their operations so they can adapt for the future.”

The final details and criteria of the funding are being agreed at this moment and we will share complete details as soon as we see them.

There will be an eligibility checker opened on the Gov.wales website in mid-April 2024 and applications will open in May 2024.

It's important to note that the application window will remain open for just 3 weeks or until the fund has been exhausted.   It will therefore be vital that businesses act quickly to work out projects and to collate the necessary evidence and data required, ready for the application window in May.

Our understanding is that projects will be assessed towards the end of Spring 24, and successful businesses will be announced around August 2024.

Any funded projects must be delivered and claimed for by the end of the financial year.

“This £20m fund is a great opportunity for businesses in Wales, but it’s important to note that it will only extend to 2,000, maybe 2,500 businesses, so it’s imperative that you keep a close eye on the timeframes involved and act quickly once the eligibility checker and the subsequent application window opens up.” said John Halliday, Bira’s Director of Marketing.

Back to news menu

Useful links

If you have any other queries please contact us.