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28 Apr 2025

The Labour Government’s new Employment Rights Bill is set to be in force this year and the new regulations will impact high street retailers up and down the country.

25 Apr 2025

ACT parent company Bira welcomes the Chancellor's announcement of plans to create a level playing field for British businesses against unfair international trade practices.

15 Apr 2025

Retail Crime Remains Alarming - Bira's Latest Survey Reveals Urgent Need for Action

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.

11 Apr 2025

Cycling UK has called for greater, targeted investment in cycling infrastructure across the UK to help more women feel safe and confident to cycle, with the charity urging Government to commit...

10 Apr 2025

Graeme Stickells, Head Trainer at South Africa’s only Cytech training centre Torq Zone Academy, is recovering from a life-threatening hit-and-run incident — and a crowdfunder has...

9 Apr 2025

Seven in ten cyclists in the UK have had their bike stolen, with the average cost of a stolen bike at £612.80 bringing the total estimated cost of thefts to £2.4 billion, according...

8 Apr 2025

MPs from multiple parties are pushing for Cycle to Work scheme to be expanded to include more people, including pensioners and freelancers, with the aim of encouraging more people to cycle.

2 Apr 2025

New regulations around recycling, known as ‘Simpler Recycling’, will soon require non-household municipal premises, including businesses, schools, and hospitals, to separate food...

2 Apr 2025

WorkNest has provided ACT members with essential resources covering statutory employment rates and the upcoming Employment Rights Bill, with the updates aimed at helping independent...

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ACT parent company Bira urges Government action as December sales disappoint

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News

ACT parent company Bira is calling for urgent government intervention following disappointing December retail figures, which show sales volumes fell by 0.3% following a modest 0.1% rise in November 2024.

York at Night

The figures, released today, reveal that while non-food stores such as clothing retailers saw some recovery, this was insufficient to offset falls in other sectors, particularly supermarkets.

Bira and the ACT believes these figures highlight the urgent need for government support for the retail sector, including independent cycling retailers that have had to content with challenging trading conditions over the last year.

Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira
Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira

Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira, said: "The retail sales in December perfectly sum up the difficulties that retailers (especially non-food retailers) have faced in 2024. Consumer confidence has been low all year despite wages rising more than inflation and a new government being elected.

"It also means that many retailers will look forward to 2025 with much trepidation, especially as we know that the costs of running a shop are set to increase significantly from April onwards – increases in employment costs and 140% increase in business rates. We are urging the government to reconsider reversing the rates increase if they are serious about revitalising high streets."

This call for action comes as retailers face mounting pressures from upcoming cost increases, with the planned business rates rise posing a particular threat to independent high street retailers.

 

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