Birmingham goes for gold in the High street competition

News
12/08/2016

Northfield High Street in Birmingham is in the running to win up to £10,000 in prize money as part of a nationwide search for Britain’s best high streets.

Although there is still a month to go until applications close, Northfield High Street is one of the first areas off the starting block to apply for the rising star category, which recognises areas that are turning fortunes around.

Northfield High Streetisamong the first fifteen applicants in the national celebration of individual communities efforts to revitalise their local areas. Since the Business Improvement District commenced in January 2012, Northfield High Street has seen a tremendous difference in tackling anti-social behaviour, graffiti, shop theft, empty shop units and unemployment.

Marcia Greenwood from Northfield Business Improvement District said:

“The high street is a vital part of our community. Northfield used to be blighted by anti-social behaviour, graffiti and shop theft, but the hard work of the Business Improvement District is turning this around.

“Northfield High Street offers the 'retailing plus' experience to its large and diverse customer base, providing value whilst acknowledging the pressure upon household budgets, restricted wage growth and higher than average unemployment in the area.

“There’s a renewed buzz on our high streets and fingers crossed our entry will be successful so Northfieldhigh street will get it’s name recognised as agreat place to live, shop and work in the 21 century.”

Now in its 3rd year, the competition celebrates the great work that is being done to revive, adapt and diversify the nation’s high streets. Alongside the cash prize, Google have joined the search and are offering all category winners a visit from The Digital Garage on Tour – a skills training workshop for retailers and small businesses.

High Streets Minister Andrew Percy said:

“Last year’s competition was a massive success, helping to showcase the very best high streets across the country, with thousands of votes cast and winning high streets reporting an increase in shoppers.

“Our local high streets remain the life and soul of towns, villages and cities across the country and I’d encourage as many of them as possible to enter this year’s competition before the closing date”.

New to 2016, the competition is also looking for individuals to win a ‘high street hero’ award. With categories for store managers and employees from national or independent retailers to ‘under 25’s’ and market traders, high streets are able to enter the individuals who are making a difference to their local community.

This is just one of the measures that the government is taking to help local business communities adapt to the changing face of high streets, on top of a £6.7 billion package of business rates support to cut the rates for 900,000 businesses – with 600,000 now paying none at all.

Investment in the high street is up by 30%, the national vacancy rate has fallen to its lowest level since January 2009 and retail sales have increased year-on-year for the longest period on record.

Nominations for both places and individuals are now open across England, Wales and Scotland. The top 3 shortlisted in each category will be announced in October. They will then go through to a public online vote and be visited by the Future High Streets Forum judging panel made up of industry leaders from across retail, property and business.

Further information

The Great British High Street competition is run by the Department for Communities and Local Government and sponsored by Boots, the British Council of Shopping Centres, Ellandi, Holland and Barratt, Marks and Spencer, the Post Office and Wilko.

Details about the competition can be found at: www.thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk

The deadline for entries is Friday, 9 September 2016

The public can support their local area on twitter by following @TheGBHighSt or using the hashtag #GBHighSt.

The nine competition categories for places are:

  • Best City Centre High Street
  • Best Town Centre High Street
  • Best Market Town High Street (small)
  • Best Market Town High Street (large)
  • Best Coastal Community High Street
  • Best Village High Street
  • Best Local Centre – precinct or parade of shops
  • Best London High Street
  • Rising Star - to recognise towns that are turning fortunes around
  • The four competition categories for individuals are:

  • Best Store Manager or Employee from a National Retailer / Organisation
  • Best Store Manager or Employee from an Independent / Small Business
  • Best Market Manager, Operator, Farmer or Trader
  • Best under 25 year old, manager or employee from a high street business