diff --git a/.github/workflows/ucc-benchmarks.yml b/.github/workflows/ucc-benchmarks.yml
index 60f6bf1..7023dc8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ucc-benchmarks.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ucc-benchmarks.yml
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# This workflow will install Python dependencies, run benchmarks and then publish teh results to github
+# It can be tested locally using https://github.com/nektos/act with the command `act push --container-architecture linux/amd64 -j ucc-benchmarks`
+# Follow the instructions https://nektosact.com/usage/index.html#skipping-jobs for setting act = true to skip pushing to github
 name: Run Benchmarks
 
 on:
@@ -15,13 +18,13 @@ jobs:
   run-benchmarks:
     runs-on: ucc-benchmarks-8-core-U22.04
     if: contains(github.event.head_commit.message, '[benchmark chore]') == false
-    
+
     steps:
       - name: Checkout Code
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           ssh-key: ${{ secrets.DEPLOY_KEY }}
-          
+
       # Build the Docker image
       - name: Build Docker image
         run: docker build -t ucc-benchmark .
@@ -32,6 +35,7 @@ jobs:
           docker run --rm \
             -v "/home/runner/work/ucc/ucc:/ucc" \
             ucc-benchmark bash -c "
+              export POETRY_VIRTUALENVS_IN_PROJECT=false POETRY_VIRTUALENVS_PATH=/venv && \
               poetry run ./benchmarks/scripts/run_benchmarks.sh 8 && \
               poetry run python ./benchmarks/scripts/plot_avg_benchmarks_over_time.py && \
               poetry run python ./benchmarks/scripts/plot_latest_benchmarks.py
@@ -43,6 +47,7 @@ jobs:
           git config --global user.email "actions@github.com"
           git config --global user.name "GitHub Actions"
       - name: Commit and push results
+        if: ${{ !github.event.act }} # skip during local actions testing
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         run: |
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index ff26b1f..ee3a4da 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 .DS_Store
 .vscode
 .python-version
+.act* # local overrides for act github action tests
 .idea/
 *.dat
 *.hdf5
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index aedd44b..4e3ef84 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -12,10 +12,13 @@ WORKDIR /ucc
 # Copy the entire project into the container
 COPY . /ucc
 
-ENV POETRY_NO_INTERACTION=1 \
-POETRY_VIRTUALENVS_IN_PROJECT=1 \
+# Store the virtual env in /venv to avoid clashing with directory
+# mapped as part of benchmark github action
+ENV POETRY_NO_INTERACTION=true \
+POETRY_VIRTUALENVS_IN_PROJECT=false \
 POETRY_VIRTUALENVS_CREATE=true \
-POETRY_CACHE_DIR=/tmp/poetry_cache
+POETRY_CACHE_DIR=/tmp/poetry_cache \
+POETRY_VIRTUALENVS_PATH=/venv
 
 # Install (rarely changing) dependencies only using Poetry to leverage docker caching
 RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/tmp/poetry_cache poetry install --no-root
@@ -23,10 +26,6 @@ RUN --mount=type=cache,target=/tmp/poetry_cache poetry install --no-root
 # Install the `ucc` package itself
 RUN poetry install
 
-# Ensure the virtual environment is properly activated
-ENV VIRTUAL_ENV=/ucc/.venv
-ENV PATH="/ucc/.venv/bin:$PATH"
-
 # Show installed package details
 RUN poetry run pip show ucc