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2 Jul 2025

MPs have called on Amazon and eBay to tighten controls after e-bikes and chargers flagged as serious fire risks were found for sale on their platforms.

25 Jun 2025

The E-Bike Positive campaign has seen major success in the first half of 2025, with its message reaching nearly 8 million people across the UK through high-profile media coverage and growing...

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...

20 Jun 2025

Activate Cycle Academy has reopened its Cytech training facility in Darlington, offering a full range of courses from Home Mechanic up to Cytech Technical Three.
 

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.

16 Jun 2025

The ACT has welcomed the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking's report "Unregulated and Unsafe: The Threat of Illegal E-Bikes", which calls for urgent Government action to...

11 Jun 2025

A new academic study has found that overzealous pro-cycling campaigners on social media may be inadvertently damaging the case for better cycling infrastructure across the UK.

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...

10 Jun 2025

Bike thefts across England and Wales have continued their steady decline, according to new data released by cycle insurance specialist Bikmo.

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...

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Polymer £20 Bank Notes have entered circulation

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News , Political News

From 20th February the new polymer £20 will enter circulation and begin appearing in ATMs across the UK.  

The £20 polymer note has been designed to be the most secure banknote yet, incorporating sophisticated security features which are difficult to counterfeit but are simple for retailers to check.

The two main security features to look out for are:

  1. See through windows - Look at the metallic image over the main window. Margate Lighthouse appears in gold foil with the Turner Contemporary gallery in blue and the foils are silver on the back. There is another small see-through window in the bottom corner of the note.
  2. Hologram image - The metallic patch under the main window contains the word ‘Twenty'. This changes to ‘Pounds' when the note is tilted from side to side.

Paper £20 notes will remain legal tender and should be spent and accepted as usual. These notes will be gradually withdrawn as they are banked. Notice will be given six months ahead of legal tender status being withdrawn.

Checklist for Retailers

  • Make sure that you know which cash handling machines are being operated by your business. These machines include: self-service check-outs, ATMs, desktop counters, ticket machines and any other machines that weigh, count, sort, accept, dispense or recycle banknotes.
  • Contact the manufacturer or supplier of your machines to discuss what adaptations will be required for issuance of the new £20 note, and when they will be available. For most machines, a software update will be needed.
  • Aim to implement adaptations to your machines before any new note is issued.
  • Train your staff on the new features of the polymer £20 note

The full list of security features and more information about the new polymer banknote are available here.

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