News: Major scheme launched to attract new retailers to Rotherham
An innovative new grants scheme is being launched in Rotherham, which aims to help attract new, specialist independent retailers into the town centre. The initiative is funded by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and developed by its Rotherham Town Centre Management as part of a major drive to improve the range of shops and reduce the number of empty units. Its key focus is to appeal to new businesses, although it is also open to existing independents that are looking to expand into an additional shop. The scheme will provide contributions to rent over a two-year period, with up to 50% of the rental in year one and 25% in year two, as well as support towards shopfitting costs. Town Centre manager Julie Roberts said: "We all know how difficult the current environment is. We recognised that we had to take further action to support town centre retail and need to work in partnership with both existing and potential retailers to move things forward. "This business grant scheme aims to do just that by encouraging retailers to open up in Rotherham while at the same time providing existing retailers with an opportunity to grow. Our priorities are to improve the quality and diversity of our shopping offer, reduce the number of vacant shops and ultimately increase footfall into the town centre." Not all businesses will be eligible for the scheme and quality niche independent stores are being targeted. Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Lewis said: "This grants scheme is great news for the town centre and we hope by offering these incentives, and level of support, the new businesses will help strengthen the shopping offer, thereby boosting trade for our existing retailers."Rotherham Town Centre website
Rotherham
2 comments:
I think this is a really great idea to attract new businesses to Rotherham's dead and depressing town centre.
But once there just what are these new businesses going to rely on for their constant income?
RMBC needs to be get real and appreciate that CUSTOM and its CASH comes with CARS, not with bus, barge, bicycle, canal boat, hopscotch, lhama or piggyback schemes.
Provide extensive FREE car parking and you'll get all the customers you can deal with - just like Meadowhall and Doncaster Lakeside.
Best Wishes, BramleyBoy
Really Bramley Boy, RMBC have already provided free parking after 6pm - what more do you want for goodness sake !
How can they pay for trips to New Zealand if they don't get the revenue in from the Rotherham folks themselves? Surely you are not expecting MP's and councillors to pay for such things out of their own pockets !
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