The Retail Sector Council has established industry-led working groups to complete analysis and make recommendations on specific priority areas. Further details on current workstreams below.
Retail – Employment Opportunities for Everyone (lead: ACS)
This report (download below) outlines the initiatives that leading retail businesses are implementing to create more opportunities for people who might otherwise be overlooked. It details the partnerships that prominent high street and online retailers have established with organisations to promote the recruitment of underutilised segments of the population, including older individuals, career returners, refugees, prison leavers, disabled individuals, care leavers, and ex-armed forces personnel. Additionally, the report provides examples of organizations that play a crucial role in facilitating these opportunities for individuals from these backgrounds.
Retail – the Great Enabler
This paper focuses on uncovering the issues facing the retail industry and the long-term implications for the nation, outlining the future of retailing as the Retail Sector Council sees it. We see this paper as a starting point that will inspire further discussion among the sector, with industry experts and with Government to help identify solutions. This report highlights many of the challenges and opportunities for the Retail Sector in the years ahead.
Some of these challenges have also been highlighted by other reports, including the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers’ recently published ‘A Plan For The Future Of Retail Work: Ensuring Retail Jobs Are Better Jobs’ report. We would welcome your thoughts and contributions when you read it, to help us to shape our work.
Views and suggestions can be sent to info@retailsectorcouncil.co.uk and more information can be found on the Council’s website.
Skills and lifelong learning [lead: John Boumphrey]
Circular economy [lead: Victoria Robertshaw]
Phase 1 www.greenstreet.org.uk launched as an information source to provide actions which small retailers can take to become greener more quickly.
Phase 2 in planning which is to set up a a physical “Green Street” that will act as an exemplar pilot scheme to help lead high street retailers towards a greener, more sustainable future. The pilot will include up to 30 retailers who will commit to implementing Green Street policies to see how they work in the real world. They will be able to use the eye-catching Green Street brand to engage customers in the need for planet friendly shopping. Their experiences will help to inform future Green Street initiatives and formulate policy ideas to present to the Government, specifically tailored around SME retailer and consumer needs and how this links into the regeneration of our local communities.
Listen to Richard Pennycook's insightful podcast discussion with ACS on 'How to Go Green In Store'