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Retail Advocacy
Retail advocacy is an increasingly important activity within ActSmart. On our own we cannot influence the people who have such a big impact on our businesses and our sector. By working together our combined voice can be heard and can make a difference.
ActSmart is represented in a number of different organisations, all of whom are working for the interests of independent retailers. Working within this context also gives us a fascinating insight into some of the big issues affecting retail and business as well as a wealth of useful information which we can feed back into the ActSmart community to better inform and educate our subscribers.
Independent Retailers Confederation
The IRC is an umbrella group formed to generate critical mass for organisations, who on their own could not hope to generate a high profile within Government and Parliament. IRC members represent over 100,000 independent retailers from many sectors including newsagents, pet care, bakers, fishmongers, music and market traders to name but a few. A great reflection of the diversity of independent retailing in the UK.
Retail Policy Forum
ActSmart is one of only two independent representatives of non-food retailers in this forum. The purpose of the Retail Policy Forum is to minimise regulatory burdens on the retail sector. The aim is to align policy objectives by improving and adding value to the Government's consultation process. The Retail Policy Forum enables retail sector representatives to have input with senior Government officials at an early stage in the formulation of UK & EU regulatory policy.
Chaired & co-ordinated via BERR (previously DTI), there is a real desire to foster joined-up working between Government Departments, at a very senior level.
Current representatives include: ActSmart, Alliance Boots, Asda, British Retail Consortium, Marks & Spencer, Tesco. The specialist/independent/small shop sector representatives are: Association of Convenience Stores, County House Retail (Regional Jeweller) and ActSmart (Sports & Leisure Retail Specialists).
All Party Parliamentary Small Shops Group
This group of cross party MP's aims to highlight the problems of smaller retailers and to draw attention to their social as well as commercial role. Most recently this group completed the "High Street: 2015" report which received nationwide coverage for its enquiry into trends in the UK retail sector and the future of independent retailers.
ActSmart is a partner and shareholder in The Retail Academy which was formed to provide training and knowledge support to the independent retail sector, whilst promoting the development of retail skills throughout the UK. Retail Academy is responsible for the development of the "Retail Detail" business support and e-learning tool, which is available through ActSmart.
The overall aim of REN is to protect and promote diversity in the small
retail sector. As a partner ActSmart provides input and support for
activities aimed at giving strategic direction and a voice to a
fragmented but key part of the economy. REN is driven by the goal of
seeing the sector thrive in all its diversity.
