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ACT parent company Bira responds to Prime Minister's 'Bobbies on the Beat' plan

11 Apr 2025

Bira has cautiously welcomed the Prime Minister's announcement this week on plans to put 'thousands of Bobbies back on the Beat' with a new neighbourhood policing guarantee.
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ACT parent company Bira warns of 'Atrocious April' as shop price inflation rises

1 Apr 2025

Bira has voiced serious concerns over the latest figures from the BRC-NIQ Shop Price Index for March 2025.
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ACT parent company Bira says Spring Statement fails to address high street crisis

26 Mar 2025

ACT parent company Bira has said the Chancellor's Spring Statement delivered today has failed to address the "perfect storm" of cost pressures facing independent retailers across the UK,... Read more…

ACT parent company Bira outlines key priorities ahead of Spring Budget

25 Mar 2025

ACT parent company Bira has outlined its key priorities ahead of the Chancellor's Spring Budget statement.
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Bristol-based cycling charity Life Cycle now offering Cytech training courses

20 Mar 2025

Cytech, the internationally recognised training and accreditation scheme for bicycle mechanics, have partnered with Bristol-based charity Life Cycle to offer a range of bicycle mechanic... Read more…

High street 'death knell' – indie retailers, including cycle shops, shutting doors ahead of April tax rises

12 Mar 2025

Towns and cities across Britain are already seeing a wave of closures as independent businesses shut their doors ahead of April’s triple tax burden, including those in the cycling retail... Read more…

Research shows UK businesses hiring more as consumer confidence lifts

5 Mar 2025

New research has revealed a recent uptick in UK consumer confidence, leading to increased hiring by businesses, with the retail sector responding positively to signs of economic resilience.
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Independent cycle shop becomes first retailer to stock new local bike brand

28 Feb 2025

Independent cycling retailer and ACT member Velo Fit has become the first to stock a new brand of bikes focused on combining quality and affordability.
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Bira cautiously welcomes new crime and policing bill to tackle retail crime across high street businesses

26 Feb 2025

ACT parent company Bira has cautiously welcomed Labour's Crime and Policing Bill but is calling for urgent action and immediate funding to address the surge in retail crime affecting independent... Read more…

Bira warns of 'troubled times ahead' despite interest rate cut

7 Feb 2025

ACT parent company Bira has warned that retailers across Britain face troubled times ahead despite today's Bank of England interest rate cut to 4.5%, as the Bank halves its growth forecast for... Read more…

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Freedom To Pay campaign promotes the use of cash in stores

Posted on in Business News, Cycles News

Consumer groupcash Which? is developing a voluntary cash pledge campaign to advertise cash acceptance in commercial premises.

The Freedom to Pay campaign is based on the belief that cash is a necessity millions couldn't live without, and a backup for everyone when online systems fail. But with banks and free-to-use ATMs disappearing at an alarming rate, Which? have voiced concerns that some people may be left behind.

"We're heading in the direction of being a cashless society, but there are still barriers out there for a lot of people. It's really important people don't get left behind - and I'm trying my hardest not to be." - Gem Turner

Gem is not alone.

Small business owners. Some people living with disabilities. Rural and isolated communities. People who have to live on tight budgets. All sorts of people up and down the country rely on cash.

1.9 million people rely on cash for nearly every transaction they make. And 8 million people would struggle in a cashless society.

Retailers will be able to sign up to the pledge by committing to accept cash as a payment method and communicate this in store. Pledging will allow retailers to signal cash-friendliness to customers, including for those unable to pay using other methods.

The pledge is focussed on retailers selling essential goods and services, is not tied to a specific time period and requires not showing a preference between cash and other payment methods. Retailers signing up will be able to use Which? ‘recommended provider' communications tools and promoted under the Freedom to Pay campaign.

 

Sign the petition

 

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