The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has launched a new campaign calling on retailers to write to their MPs calling for urgent reform of the business rates system in the upcoming Autumn Budget.

The trade body is pressing the government to ease cost pressures by setting new Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) multipliers 20p lower than the standard and small business rates. It also wants Small Business Rate Relief thresholds to be indexed in line with rising rateable values and for Improvement Relief to be expanded from one year to three years. The latter includes calls for provisions to be made in plant & machinery and security systems such as CCTV to encourage investment in energy efficiency and store safety.

ACS chief executive James Lowman warned that many community shops are struggling under the weight of rates bills.

“Convenience stores play a vital role in their local communities, from providing access to essential products and services, secure employment opportunities and acting as a social hub for their customers. However, many of these businesses are facing increases in their rates bills and these bills are putting a massive strain on retailers and ultimately, there are local shops facing closure due to increasing costs in areas they cannot control, and in the context of a tough trading environment,” he said.

He added that the sector needs a “fairer system” that supports investment and protects shops at the heart of communities.

As part of the campaign, ACS has provided retailers with a template email to send to their MPs, encouraging them to highlight the pressures facing the sector. More information is available on the ACS website.