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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...

1 Apr 2025

Bira has voiced serious concerns over the latest figures from the BRC-NIQ Shop Price Index for March 2025.

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,...

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Scottish retailers call for urgent business rates support as gap widens with rest of UK

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News

Scottish independent retailers, including those in the cycling sector, are urging the Scottish Government to provide crucial business rates relief in its upcoming budget, as the disparity in support between Scotland and the rest of the UK continues to grow.

Glasgow Commerce Scotland

ONS data reveals that retail insolvencies in Scotland have increased at a faster rate than in England and Wales over the past two years, since the retail discount was abandoned in Scotland. This trend suggests the Scottish government's policy is actively damaging the high street, which includes bike retailers that play a key role in promoting active travel and environmental goals.

The situation looks set to worsen as retailers in England prepare to receive 40% business rates relief from April 2024, while Scottish high street businesses, including cycling shops, have received no comparable support for the past two years, despite facing identical challenges with rising costs and economic pressures.

Karen Forret, Owner and Managing Director of Wilkies and Member Director for ACT parent company Bira, said: "Scottish retailers will be up against it come April with the new National Insurance and wage costs. We need the Scottish Government's support more than ever.

"For the last two years, Scottish high streets have had no support from the Scottish Government, while our counterparts south of the border and in Wales have received vital assistance. Retail is not just an essential part of our communities but also critical for Scottish tourism."

Bira, along with the ACT, is highlighting that the lack of comparable support puts Scottish retailers at a significant competitive disadvantage, particularly as they face increasing operational costs and economic challenges in 2024.

The organisations await the Scottish Government's budget announcement, hoping for measures that will help protect and sustain Scotland's vital high street retail sector which encompasses shops that support the cycling industry that has attracted significant investment in cities such as Glasgow.

Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira said: "The future of our high streets hangs in the balance. We urge the Scottish Government to recognise the crucial role independent retailers play in Scotland's economy and communities by providing comparable support to that offered elsewhere in the UK."

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