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ACT member Balfe’s Bikes begins rolling out Cytech Apprenticeships across its stores.

ACT member Balfe’s Bikes has begun its plan to introduce Cytech apprentices to its stores and upskill existing staff through the Cytech training programme.

18 Sep 2023, more…

Canadian Cytech Training Partner visiting Scotland to advise on careers in adventure tourism

The team from Whistler Adventure School (WAS), which recently became the only centre in Canada accredited to offer Cytech technical three, is to deliver a series of free sessions in Scotland,...

15 Sep 2023, more…

Cytech trainer back to training after providing mechanical support at UCI World Championships

Cytech training provider Spokes People were recently asked by the Afghan National Team if they could suggest any way for them to be supported mechanically at the UCI World Championships in...

24 Aug 2023, more…

Funded training available for Cycle Maintenance Apprenticeships

Fully funded training for school and college leavers is available for the Cycle Maintenance Apprenticeship for those under 19 years of age at the start of the apprenticeship.

9 Aug 2023, more…

Dates announced for Giant-specific Cytech e-bike courses.

Giant UK has partnered with Activate Cycle Academy and the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT) to provide a Cytech technical e-Bike qualification.

11 Jul 2023, more…

Whistler Adventure School becomes the only centre in Canada accredited to offer Cytech technical three

Cytech, the internationally recognised training and accreditation scheme for bicycle technicians, has announced that Whistler Adventure School (WAS), a private career training institution in...

3 Jul 2023, more…

Giant Collaborate with ACT and Activate Cycle Academy to offer Giant specific Cytech e-bike qualification

Giant UK have partnered with Activate Cycle Academy and the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT) to provide a Cytech Technical e-Bike qualification

16 Jun 2023, more…

Bike for Good’s improved Cytech traineeship for women and non-binary people proving successful

A new and improved traineeship programme for women and non-binary people being implemented by  Bike for Good, which delivers Cytech training in Scotland, is proving successful.

15 Jun 2023, more…

Cytech training provider Spokes People to deliver workshops at National Cycling Show 2023, opening this Saturday 17th June

Lee & Darren from Spokes People, one of Cytech’s UK training providers, are attending the National Cycling Show this weekend and will be delivering various workshops and sessions for...

14 Jun 2023, more…

Get yourself a free ticket to the National Cycling Show with V12

ACT partners V12 Finance, who are headline sponsors for this year’s National Cycle Show, have an allocation of free tickets that they would like to share with you!

31 May 2023, more…

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Mary Portas warns government to act now or see half of high street shops shut

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Mary Portas warns government to act now or see half of high street shops shut

Posted on 14 Nov 2022

Ahead of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement this week, retail expert Mary Portas called on the Government to rethink business rates and VAT to help struggling retailers.

She said: “Put simply we could lose half of all shops. We need to look at the systems they are currently working under, because they are not fit for purpose for the future.

Row of Bikes

“So VAT, business rates, all of it needs to be looked at. We need to look at the bigger picture and how people want, and need to live, in the future – for the good of themselves and the planet.”

In 2011, she published a report stating the aim was to “put the heart back into the centre of our high streets, calling on the authorities to re-imagine them “as destinations for socialising, culture, health, wellbeing, creativity and learning.” But she says nothing has changed in the past decade and without more support thousands of small shops will be lost during the cost-of-living crisis.

“It’s no different now to 11 years ago when I brought out my report,” she says. “As for big business and governments, people don’t trust them, they’ve had enough. We want what’s local, what’s safe and what we can trust.”

She added: “What’s inspiring, but at the same time frustrating, is everything I wrote in my report more than a decade ago, about how important high streets are to our society and our daily lives, is the same.

“They’re more important than what is being sold to us. People, particularly post-Covid, realise how important they are to their wellbeing and how they live. Having thriving high streets we can walk or cycle to for our daily needs is vital to our future.”

She praised “incredible independents” which make up 90% of high street businesses but admitted frustration because “all we talk about are big businesses”.

She said: “Small businesses have been hugely successful, and we need them to succeed. When it comes to budgets and government spending, I believe it needs to be about prioritising. And I happen to think we should prioritise the wellbeing of society.”

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