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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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Teacher and ice-cream store manager move from Australia to take over Halifax indie bookshop.

Posted on in Business News

A family of booklovers are moving from Australia to become the new owners of an independent bookshop in Halifax.

Halifax bookshop

Image: Instagram.com/thethoughtfulspotbooks

Amy and Grant Moorhouse are taking over The Thoughtful Spot Children’s Bookshop. The pair have been living in Australia for the past 11 years but are returning to Calderdale with their three children.

Amy is a primary school teacher with a background in libraries and a passion for early years learning, while Grant has spent the last decade managing one of the most popular gelato stores in Australia, gaining an extensive expertise in hospitality and events.

"Our combined experience, coupled with a genuine love for books instilled in our three book-loving children, means this is a real family business that we hope to continue to grow for years to come,” said Amy.

"We are thrilled to be re-joining the community and taking on this exciting new venture as booksellers.”

The pair will reopen the shop during the half-term holidays in the last week of May and are keen to hold story time sessions, book clubs and school holiday events.

The shop was opened by Kevin and Gabrielle McCallion three years ago but announced earlier this year they had taken the difficult decision to move on.

 

 

 

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