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Cycling club raising funds for youth bike maintenance workshops and 'go slow' inclusivity initiative

21 Nov 2024

A local cycling club is raising money and seeking donations and assistance in order to teach bike maintenance to young people through a series of workshops in 2025.
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Bira meets with Treasury members to discuss Budget concerns and business rate reform proposal

17 Nov 2024

Bira has held a meeting with members of the Treasury team to discuss concerns following its robust response to the Government’s recent Budget announcement.
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ACT teams up with Saledock to supercharge bike shop efficiency and customer experience

14 Nov 2024

The ACT has announced a dynamic partnership with Saledock - an all-in-one POS, eCommerce, and inventory management platform tailor-made for bike shops and workshops.
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'Devastating and out of touch' - independent retailers react to Budget bombshell

1 Nov 2024

Independent retailers across Britain have reacted with dismay to yesterday's Budget, with many warning of store closures, job losses and cancelled expansion plans.
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Devastating Budget Delivers Triple Blow to Independent Retailers, Says ACT and Bira

30 Oct 2024

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) and the ACT have condemned today's Budget as the most damaging for independent retailers in recent memory, with... Read more…

Retailers paying one-third of all UK business rates despite making up only 9% of economy

30 Oct 2024

Retailers and hospitality businesses are paying three times their economic share in business rates, according to analysis by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and UK Hospitality.
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How much cash do you still accept? Independent cycling retailers can respond to this survey today

30 Oct 2024

ACT parent company Bira is working with UK Finance and other organisations who form the UK’s wholesale cash industry to gain vital information to ensure businesses get the best possible... Read more…

Bira Conference a huge success with ACT members in attendance

25 Oct 2024

ACT members were in attendance at the hugely successful Bira Conference in London last week, featuring an inspiring line-up of speakers providing valuable insights from independent retail... Read more…

Bira cautiously welcomes retail sales growth but calls for continued support

11 Oct 2024

ACT parent company Bira has responded to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor for September 2024
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FSB launches blueprint to revitalise UK high streets and boost tourism

3 Oct 2024

The Federation of Small Businesses has launched a new initiative, which it says aims to transform high streets across the UK, by advancing economic, social, and cultural benefits, while also... Read more…

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Businesses offering retail finance can now save hundreds of pounds per year with ActSmart's new initiative

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ActshoppingSmart subscribers will be able to save time and money when offering retail finance with the new Retail Finance Appointed Representative initiative, meaning they get all the benefits of offering regulated finance with no Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) involvement.

Over the past year retail finance has played a key role in sales throughout the pandemic; when comparing Jan 2020 to Jan 2021 applications to purchase items through retail finance have increased by nearly 50%.

With more businesses realising the value that retail finance can bring to their business, ActSmart has now transformed the process to make it easier and cheaper than ever before. The brand new Retail Finance Appointed Representative service will save ActSmart subscribers both time and money on a yearly basis by removing the FCA acceptance and renewal processes.

Key benefits of the new service include:

  • Offer regulated finance to your customers
  • No initial FCA application fee - save £100
  • No FCA yearly renewal fees (except any incurred prior to being appointed) - save a minimum of £150 per year
  • No FCA paperwork - save time and effort
  • Liaise directly with ActSmart not the FCA
  • Offer finance with no subsidies

For more information and to apply for the Retail Finance Appointed Representative service please visit the ActSmart website here or get in touch at info@actsmart.biz.

Please note: Owing to the FCA fee structure and process for changing from a directly authorised business to an Appointed Representative ActSmart will currently be prioritising non-authorised businesses. Businesses that are already directly authorised by the FCA can still take advantage of the cost and time savings by becoming an Appointed Representative but the process will be completed nearer the next FCA reporting period.

All interested businesses should register using the form on this page and we will contact you in due course.

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