શ્રેણીઓ: ફેડની સામાન્ય ખબરો

DRS Grant and Exemption Confirmation Welcomed by the Fed

The Fed has welcomed confirmation that grants of £6,000 will be available for small independent shops which install a Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) as part of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for recycling bottles and cans after the scheme launches in October 2027. The confirmation was provided by Exchange for Change, the Deposit Management Organisation (DMO), which will administer DRS and which the Fed serves through its advisory board.

The scheme will add a 20p returnable deposit to all bottles and cans sold between 150ml and 3 litres and this week’s announcement follows confirmation of the Retail Handling Fee which the Fed responded to cautiously earlier this month. The grants will be available in three annual payments of £2,000, which will be funded three months after the installation of an RVM.

Throughout preparations for the launch of DRS, the Fed has called for DRS to be revenue neutral for small shops so as to drive up participation rates by small shops and help the scheme reach its ambitious goals to boost recycling. Exchange for Change has an overall goal of improving recycling rates to 90% of bottles and cans, up from approximately 70% today, thereby driving down littering.

The announcement also included confirmation that retailers in urban areas with a retail footprint of less than 100m² will be automatically exempted from operating a return point for DRS items if they wish and can apply for an exemption if they have a floor area below 200m². Meanwhile, retailers in rural areas can also apply for an exemption if their floor space is anything up to 199 m².

However, the Fed has urged members to think carefully about applying for an exemption, as it is widely predicted that DRS will shift footfall toward shops with a DRS return point, whether that is a manual return point or RVM. It has shared a series of updates for members through the Fed website, Your Fed magazine and will be hosting a panel discussion on the topic at its annual conference in Birmingham next year.

Commenting on the new grant announcement, Hetal Patel, National President of the Federation of Independent Retailers said: “The Fed has long backed the goals of DRS but we have also called for DRS to work for small shops so our members can drive return rates. Confirmation of the grant that the Fed has lobbied for is very welcome news and a positive development after the recent announcement of what the Retail Handling Fee.”

Russell Davies, Exchange For Change CEO said: “Retailers will play a fundamental role in transforming how we increase recycling and reduce litter in every corner of the UK through the Deposit Return Scheme. This package of support has been developed following extensive consultation with industry and intended to help retailers of different sizes make the best choice for their business, whether that’s installing an RVM or applying for an exemption.”

The Fed backs crackdown on rogue traders

The Fed has welcomed new powers proposed by the Home Office to tackle illicit trading on the High Street.

The move follows months of lobbying by the Fed and other retail trade bodies to highlight the scale of the trade in illicit and black market goods – and its impact on legitimate retail.

The Home Office announcement includes legislation to give police and local authorities extra powers to close down businesses associated with illicit trading, including vape stores, barbers and nail salons.

The new legislation is expected to come into force later this year and will apply to England and Wales.

The Fed’s National President Hetal Patel said: “As responsible retailers, Fed members are hit hard by rogue trading and organised crime undermining legitimate retail.

“It diverts trade from those who play by the rules, but also puts honest, law abiding shop owners at risk of being unfairly tarred with the same brush, undermining the close relationship we have with our customers.

“The Fed has identified concerns about this challenge for a number of years, but particularly in recent months, including in a meeting I had with the Crime and Police Minister Sarah Jones MP at the Home Office in December. Fed members across the country have also met with their local MPs and PCCs to raise the issue and call for action.

“We are glad that the government is taking this matter forward and welcome the message this will send to those who break the law.”

At the moment, shops believed to be involved in illegal trading can be closed for up to six months, but in many cases they reopen before the police have completed their investigations. Under today’s announcement, maximum closure orders look set to be doubled after consultation with relevant parties.

Announcing the proposed legislation, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “High streets across the country have been hijacked by criminal gangs operating in plain sight – running vape stores, dodgy barbers, and nail salons to launder their dirty money.

“I have launched a nationwide crackdown to raid and close thousands of illegal businesses, arrest bosses and seize their dirty cash. But I will go further – introducing new laws to close these shops for good and put criminal bosses behind bars.”

The Fed’s Alpesh Patel discusses retailer concerns with Hertfordshire MP Victoria Collins

The Fed’s Alpesh Patel met with Liberal Democrat MP Victoria Collins at his business, Wheathampstead Post Office, in Hertfordshire, on Friday, May 29, where he discussed some of the opportunities and challenges facing small independent shops, particularly rising energy costs

Victoria Collins, Lib Dem MP for Berkhamsted and Harpenden, has represented her constituency as a Liberal Democrat since the last election in July 2024 and also serves as the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Science, Innovation and Technology in the House of Commons. Also attending the meeting was the Fed’s Political Engagement Coordinator Douglas Oliver.

Mr Patel, who currently serves on the Fed’s Executive Council, has operated the shop in the village since 2000. He spoke about the range of services the busy shop and post office provides, including payment and parcel services, as well as the greetings cards, hardware, textile and vast range of convenience products it sells.

The Fed team explained that energy costs are a particular concern for small independent shops at the moment, following the recent conflict in Iran and supply disruption affecting oil supplies in the Middle East, which are likely to filter through to bills in the near future. Mr Patel explained that many Fed members are reliant on energy-intensive refrigeration units which are kept running 24 hours a day and therefore consume significant amounts of electricity.

Mr Oliver spoke about its work supporting the Trust and Transparency Charter for energy – along with Labour backbencher Sarah Edwards MP and the Startup Coalition – which could help create more competition and hence drive down energy costs but said more needed to be done to help small shops face up to energy price inflation.

Whilst retail crime was less of a challenge at Mr Patel’s shop, compared to other Fed members elsewhere in the UK, the discussion also touched on the Fed’s engagement with Government on the passage of the recent Crime and Policing Act. Mr Patel also highlighted rising taxes like higher employer National Insurance Contributions introduced in April 2025, which made it more expensive to employ extra staff.

Victoria Collins MP said:

“Our local independent shops and post offices are at the heart of our communities. They are far more than just places to buy everyday essentials, they provide vital services, create local jobs and offer a lifeline for many residents, particularly older and more vulnerable people.

“It was lovely to meet Alpesh Patel and hear firsthand about both the opportunities and challenges facing small businesses. From rising energy bills to higher employment costs, many local retailers are being squeezed from all sides.

“If we want thriving high streets, the Government must back businesses, which means tackling soaring costs, supporting local enterprise and recognising the enormous contribution independent retailers make to our local economy and community life.”

Mr Patel said: “I would like to thank Victoria for visiting. It was good to discuss some of the challenges facing my shop and how that applies to other businesses elsewhere in the country. I look forward to welcoming her to visit the shop again in the future.”