Political Advocacy
Working for the interests of independent retailers
Political advocacy is an increasingly important activity within ActSmart. Independently, small leisure sectors cannot expect to influence the people who have such a big impact on our businesses and our industries, but by working together our combined voice can be heard and can make a real difference.
ActSmart is represented in a number of different organisations, all of whom are working for the interests of speciality retailing. Working within this context also gives us a fascinating insight into some of the big issues affecting small businesses as well as a wealth of useful information, which we can feed back into the ActSmart community to better inform and educate our members.
All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group
The All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group (APPCG) exists to promote the use of bicycles as a mode of transport and to raise the awareness and status of cycling.
There are a number of APPCG meetings throughout the year, and rather than ActSmart attend to represent the industry, we have now opened up our involvement to ACT members.
ACT members (Gold or Platinum members in the cycles industry) will be invited to attend the meetings to discuss current political issues within the cycling industry. We will notify all ACT members when the opportunity has arisen for you to attend an APPCG meeting and any interested members will need to register their interest with ActSmart by emailing us the attendees full name, business trading name; personal phone no. and personal e-mail.
Independent Retailers Confederation
The IRC is an umbrella group formed to create 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 convenience stores, newsagents, pet shops, butchers, booksellers and cycle shops to name but a few. A great reflection of the diversity of speciality retailing in the UK.
Retail Policy Forum
ActSmart is one of only two independent retailer representatives of the forum and the only non-food based specialist representative.
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 by the Department of Business Innovation and Skills there is a real desire to foster joined-up working between Government Departments at a very senior level to assist the development of the retail sector.
Current representatives include: ActSmart, Asda, Association of Convenience Stores, British Independent Retailers Association, British Retail Consortium, Cooperative Group, John Lewis Partnership, Kingfisher, Lloyds Pharmacy, Marks & Spencer, Sainsburys and Tesco. A much wider representation of retailers and trade associations are represented via the Virtual Retail Policy Forum.
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 throughout the UK.
The APPSSG produced 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.
The Retail Academy
ActSmart is a partner and ACT a 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.
Membership criteria
All ActSmart members are kept updated with our involvement in political advocacy
Click here to join ActSmart or to upgrade your membership.
