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Investment in convenience sector hits record high of £1bn

17 Sep 2024

Over the last year, convenience retailers have spent a combined £1bn (up from £646m in the previous 12 months) refitting their stores, installing new energy efficient refrigeration... Read more…

Bira responds cautiously to encouraging trends in KPMG Retail Sales Monitor report.

3 Sep 2024

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has responded to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor for August 2024. The report, which can be downloaded here, has highlighted:
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Pet Shop owner nominated for award for food bank donations

2 Sep 2024

Rebecca Harrington, owner of Purdy's pet shop in Coventry, has been nominated in the animal category at BBC CWR's Make a Difference awards for providing pet food parcels to food banks
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Standardised witness statement developed for retailers submitting CCTV evidence to the polic

2 Sep 2024

The National Business Crime Centre (NBCC), in collaboration with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and police forces, has developed a standardised witness statement for retailers submitting... Read more…

Sheffield’s new independent retail hub opens to the public

2 Sep 2024

A redeveloped Grade II* Listed hub in Sheffield has opened its doors to the public for the first time, providing a contemporary city centre hub for some of the city’s finest... Read more…

Government urged to protect independent retailers as part of living wage increases

2 Sep 2024

The national president of the Federation of Independent Retailers has written to the new secretary of state for business and trade, Jonathan Reynolds, to highlight the impact of higher wages on... Read more…

Barbers to test blood pressure to fight inequality

2 Sep 2024

Two barber shops in south London are offering customers free blood pressure tests to tackle undiagnosed health issues amongst black and Asian men.
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Bira welcomes recent Bank of England interest rate cut

14 Aug 2024

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has welcomed the Bank of England’s recent decision to cut interest rates from 5.25% to 5%.
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Community rallies around shop owner’s appeal after ‘devastating’ break-in

14 Aug 2024

A shop owner in Bramley, West Leeds, has thanked kind-hearted members of the community after her shop was targeted by burglars.
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National and local governments called on to invest in the repair of the retail sector after recent riots.

14 Aug 2024

The recent wave of civil unrest in the has dealt a severe blow to the UK retail sector, with high-street stalwarts and independent stores alike bearing the brunt of the violence.
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Leicester becomes latest to offer a free e-bikes scheme funded by Department of Transport

Posted on in Business News, Cycles News

Leicester has become the latest city to offer a free e-bikes scheme to encourage people to leave their cars at home and pedal around the city. The scheme, which is funded by the Department for Transport, means people will be able to loan an e-cycle for an entire month.

People can also attend sessions to learn riding skills and to boost their confidence on the road in the coming months. Cycling UK said 59% of journeys under five miles are driven and says the scheme will show people how cost-effective cycling is.

Bikes in snow

According to a 2019 survey, 18,000 daily trips were taken by cycle in Leicester. Councillor Adam Clarke, deputy city mayor said:

"Making cycling as easy and safe as possible is key in changing the way people choose to travel and helping to tackle the climate emergency. Convenience is key – which is why we also invest in initiatives like our city centre bike park, which offers free secure cycle parking.

"We’re also seeing up to 400 trips per day on Santander Cycles Leicester, the city’s e-bike share scheme and the largest scheme of its kind in the UK. Making cycling easier will be a great scheme to complement this, giving people the chance to take out an extended e-bike loan and try before they buy."

Cycling UK said that by giving people the opportunity to discover the cost, health and environmental benefits of e-cycling, it will help cut down on unnecessary short car journeys. According to research by DfT, the average UK driver now spends £107 on petrol and £149 on diesel per month.

In comparison, cycle to work schemes, such as CycleScheme, allow people to buy a standard £1000 e-cycle for less than £60 per month for just one year, after which time the only costs will be charging and occasional maintenance.
Jenny Box, deputy director of Making Cycling 'E-asier' said: "We’re delighted to be giving locals in Leicester the opportunity to discover the amazing benefits of e-cycling through Evans Cycles, and later, community hubs. Making Cycling E-asier's loans and skills and confidence sessions are completely free, and we hope this will help more people to consider e-cycling as an everyday mode of transport.”

The scheme, which is backed by an £8 million investment from Department for Transport, successfully launched in Manchester in May this year. The initiative will roll out in additional locations across the country next year.

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