Act Membership
The National Association of Cycle Traders (ACT) represents the interests of businesses trading in the UK cycle market.
The ACT is the largest trade association in the UK cycle sector with c.1800 subscribers and over 1000 Full ACT Members. They have been promoting specialist cycle retailers for over 80 years and remains the only organisation dedicated to specialist businesses selling cycling products and services throughout the UK retail supply chain.
Objective
"To promote the future of cycling through representation and business support of the entire specialist cycle sector, furthering its continued growth and development."
The National Association of Cycle Traders is a membership organisation and in partnership with ActSmart aims to provide cycle businesses with essential services, business support, promotion and development opportunities.
The ActSmart Cycles subscription helps provide the Association with the valuable investment it needs to continue its work on behalf of the specialist cycle sector.
Retailers are the key interface between the industry and the cycling public and ACT embraces the diversity of the sector: large or small, rural or urban, race or commuting, traditional or cutting-edge, ensuring that membership is a valuable investment for each and every member.
Structure
The National Association of Cycle Traders is passionately committed to membership involvement and although the nominated Board of Directors are jointly responsible for the strategic development of the Association, membership engagement is encouraged through a range of activities.
These include a variety of web platforms, market surveys, regular polls, news with commentary feedback, trade events, store visits and the provision of dedicated resources to service members' needs.
Business support is provided via ActSmart who entered into an arrangement with the Association in 2006 to provide a range of business services, skills development programmes, resources, consultancy and communication formats to help develop the UK cycle trade under the Association's guidance.
The partnership with ActSmart brings with it a team of individuals skilled in business support, and a small army of professional specialists who operate for ActSmart's partner providers.
The ACT/ActSmart partnership provides the specialist sector with a voice in the industry and Government, ensuring the needs and challenges of ACT members and the sector as a whole are heard.
Cytech
Cytech, the industry standard training and qualification scheme, owned by the industry for the industry, was developed by ACT and remains an asset of the Association and its members.
Click here to find out more about Cytech and ongoing developments including Cytech Retail training and qualifications.
Membership Criteria
Full Membership of the National Association of Cycle Traders is exclusively available to either Gold or Platinum ActSmart members which nominate their primary business as Cycles upon enrolment with ActSmart.
Businesses which do not meet the membership criteria retain ActSmart only membership within the Cycles industry.
ACT membership is available to any UK based business paying commercial rates which derives a key element of its income via the sale, servicing, distribution, promotion or hire of cycles, cycling products or cycling related services or any business operating from a mobile facility providing cycle workshop services.
ACT Members must have adequate, valid insurance in place at all times, covering public, product and employer liability as appropriate. Businesses must provide confirmation of insurance and policy renewal date upon enrolment (please refer to your Certificate of Employers Liability Insurance).
If current insurance is not in place at time of application an applicant will be given up to 4 weeks to obtain such or membership will revert to ActSmart only. Insurance can be obtained via ActSmart's Business Insurance service.
Full ACT Members will receive an ACT Member window sticker and certificate upon joining and annual renewal of membership.
Full ACT Membership is available in the United Kingdom only. Some ACT services e.g, Cytech are available outside of the UK.
In the case of any dispute regarding ACT membership, the matter will be referred to the Board of Directors at their next scheduled meeting. Their decision will be final.
Click here to join ActSmart or to upgrade your membership.
What next?
If you have any queries regarding ACT membership criteria please contact us via ActSmart.
