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9 Jan 2026

ACT parent company Bira has has demanded equal treatment for small shops after the government announced plans to water down business rate rises for pubs.

9 Jan 2026

Bikeability has responded to a report that found participation in its child cycling proficiency scheme has fallen across parts of the Midlands, particularly in the West Midlands, and it believes...

8 Jan 2026

Councils across England have received more than £626m in government funding to deliver new walking, wheeling and cycling schemes, with enough investment to build 500 miles of routes and...

23 Dec 2025

An end of year message from Jonathan Harrison, Director of the ACT.

23 Dec 2025

Labour’s transport chief has talked up the government’s latest active travel funding pledge while not being drawn on specific national aims for walking and cycling, despite calls for...

23 Dec 2025

A $1.6 million anti-counterfeiting bust has seen illegal bicycle products seized after an investigation targeting listings on AliExpress, a Chinese retail giant whose website is accessible to...

12 Dec 2025

Electric bike specialist title CyclingElectric.com has announced that its e-bike Demo Days will return to the four established locations in 2026, following a successful series of...

11 Dec 2025

ACT parent company Bira has called on the Scottish Government to follow Wales's example and introduce genuine business rates reductions for retail premises ahead of the Scottish Budget on 13...

11 Dec 2025

An ACT member has picked up a ‘Mechanic of the Month’ award in a rare win for an entire team.

10 Dec 2025

The ACT has joined more than 50 organisations in signing a letter to transport secretary Heidi Alexander calling for clearer, measurable national targets for walking, wheeling and cycling in...

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How the ACT's Independent Retailers Confederation (IRC) membership will benefit IBDs

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News

IRC full logoThe ACT has recently restructured to align itself even more closely with the partner organisations that make up the Independent Retailers Confederation (IRC).

For over two decades the ACT has worked with the IRC representing the interests of well over 100,000 specialist retailers; over recent months the challenges we have all faced together has underwritten the value of that partnership, even more so as we look towards the future of the high street.

What the IRC brings the IBD:

  • Unrivalled access to Government on business matters impacting speciality retail
  • Extensive and ever increasing engagement opportunities with the public/new customers
  • A width of knowledge and experience in delivering business support across multiple sectors, high streets and shopping parades throughout the UK
  • Increased buying power and influence with commercial, Government and national agencies
  • Information, advice and best practice standards for Indie Retail
  • IRC meets every fortnight to discuss and co-ordinate action on issues impacting Indie Retail
  • The opportunity to rebuild the high street together for the future
  • Organises the Government recognised Best Small Shops competition that celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit of independent retailers
The new membership structure will allow all businesses to embrace the ACT as their trade body; more accessible to any business who can benefit from a selection of services free of charge. Participants at every level will benefit from extended business support with new services being added to the portfolio alongside a reduced pricing structure to cater for all. 
 
The restructure means that full annual ACT membership is now available for £60p.a. the equivalent of just £5p.m.
 
To learn more about the ACT's restructure and new and improved pricing read the ACT brochure or click on the link below to join the ACT now.
 
 
 

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