Positive Impact of Traders Groups at Place Level
SaveTheHighStreet.org has been delivering ‘grass roots’ support since 2016. We have found that one of the most effective projects for improving vibrancy and driving local footfall is the formation of a Traders Group.
The positive impact of ‘pulling together’ can benefit everyone – not just the traders themselves. Often Landlords, Local Authorities or other ‘authorities’ would like to offer support or help, but where there is no central point of contact for the high street area or town centre, it can be hard to get off the first base.
What have we been doing?
Over the past 18 months or so we have worked in over 10 locations across England to connect with high street businesses and help facilitate the formation of a new Group, or re-launch one that has lapsed or needed an injection of support. These projects have been backed by funding partners, who are committed to supporting their high streets.
Where?
Our Groups have been based in various locations, including:
- Ware, Baldock and Hemel Old Town in Hertfordshire
- Penistone, Hoyland, Goldthorpe, Cudworth and Royston in Yorkshire
- Coalville in Leicestershire.
We’ve also provided a longer term initiative for creating and launching a Town Centre Partnership in Dudley in the West Midlands.
What’s been achieved?
First and foremost we’ve kick started conversations between traders. Although some areas are well-connected, there are examples of people running businesses in the same high street for 15 years or so, having never previously spoken to their fellow traders! Building a database of local high street businesses, complete with contact details is part of our successful model.
We’ve then identified ‘hot topics’ and local issues with a view to moving towards a plan for improvements. In many cases we’ve positively ‘unblocked’ the problems through direct intervention or negotiation.
Once issues had been ‘aired’ we could then focus on specific activities to help generate more footfall and trade. These have included window competitions, local events, high street ‘trails’ and the creation of new, seasonal markets.
Many Local Champions are also business owners, which means they often don’t get time to kick start a Group without facilitated support. Here’s what our newest Group had to say:
“We’ve been grateful for the help and guidance from Julie and the SaveTheHighStreet.org team in getting the Hoyland Traders Group up and running. Although numbers attending meetings have not been huge, we have made great progress and we’ve managed to access fantastic local, collaborative support including funding that we would otherwise not have been aware of or considered.
We’ve also built relationships with national brands and formed a partnership with Community Shop Group’s management team, which has resulted in access to free use of equipment, access to volunteers and donations including selection boxes for our Christmas event.
It has been hard work but a very positive experience.”
Peter Holmes (Barnsley Today Magazine) and Wayne Crawshaw (John Crawshaw Butchers)
Co-Chairs of Hoyland Traders Group
Julie Holden, Community Director at SaveTheHighStreet.org is close to many of these projects. “It is good to see that the recent recommendations from the House of Lords report into high streets includes support for ‘local communities’ and a focus on town centre management to help drive improvements.
Our Dudley Group was featured on Central ITV as the new report was announced, showcasing their activities as a great example of exactly the sort of positive initiative needed. Click here to watch the news report.
We have an army of Local Champions who are passionate about the success of their high streets and town centres! We are excited to be developing this area of our work in the year ahead.”
A few words from one of our Local Authority partners:
“North West Leicestershire District Council commissioned SaveTheHighStreet.org to undertake an ‘on the ground’ project to assess the appetite for creating a local traders’ group in Coalville town centre.
Through the direct input from the team at SaveTheHighStreet.org, the project has been a success. A core group of local businesses and high street champions have come together to form a new town team and have accessed a historic pot of funding which had been ring-fenced for town centre activities.
We now have an active and dedicated team of local businesses with a formal structure. This has enabled the council to work more closely with town centre businesses, and for the town team to coordinate new events and activities to encourage people to come and enjoy Coalville and its food, drink, leisure, heritage and retail offer.
I’m delighted with what has been achieved and am happy to recommend this partnership for other towns and local areas without a formal group or Business Improvement District.”
Barrie Walford, Economic Development Manager, North West Leicestershire District Council
If you’d like to make a difference in your local area then sign up as a Local Champion by clicking here
