News: Rotherham to become Portas Pilot
Rotherham town centre is one of 27 areas to be named as a "Portas Pilot" and is set to receive £100,000 of government funding to support the high street.
The fund is in response to Mary Portas' government-commissioned review into the nation's High Street and is to be used to breathe new life into the town and support new business start-ups whilst bringing empty High Street properties back into use.
The fund will be matched to £100,000 from British Land, the owners of the nearby retail park at Parkgate to test the "Town Team" approach and pilot ideas and recommendations set out in the Mary Portas Review.
Following financial support for new independent retailers through grants and rent reductions, Rotherham will now support around 70 town centre retailers who show the potential to grow and develop by expanding and diversifying their product range. They will also get help in targeting customers through marketing and branding.
The focus will also be to get more residents to "shop local" with the team emphasising the individuality of the local high street, working closely with independent local shops.
Earlier in the year, Rotherham missed out on funding via the £10m High Street Innovation Fund and the first round of the Portas Pilots but has now been successful amongst around 350 bids.
Councillor Gerald Smith, cabinet member for Regeneration and Development at Rotherham Council, said: "We have been doing a huge amount of work to get people back into the town centre and our footfall figures over the last ten months show that this working. This funding will allow us and our partners to build on that success and hard work and allow us to continue with projects that will give our local shops and businesses the necessary vision for the future."
"Our successful bid encourages and supports businesses to improve their standards, customer-base and profitability, which in turn will ultimately encourage residents to Shop Local."
Local Government Minister Grant Shapps said: "Today I'd like to congratulate the 15 town teams that, in the face of stiff competition, have been selected to be the next Portas Pilots."
Leading retail marketing consultant, Mary Portas, was impressed by Rotherham on a visit last year as she compiled her review. She went on to reference Rotherham in the published report having seen what a bustling, lively market can do for a town centre.
Rotherham town centre website
Images: RiDO
The fund is in response to Mary Portas' government-commissioned review into the nation's High Street and is to be used to breathe new life into the town and support new business start-ups whilst bringing empty High Street properties back into use.
The fund will be matched to £100,000 from British Land, the owners of the nearby retail park at Parkgate to test the "Town Team" approach and pilot ideas and recommendations set out in the Mary Portas Review.
Following financial support for new independent retailers through grants and rent reductions, Rotherham will now support around 70 town centre retailers who show the potential to grow and develop by expanding and diversifying their product range. They will also get help in targeting customers through marketing and branding.
The focus will also be to get more residents to "shop local" with the team emphasising the individuality of the local high street, working closely with independent local shops.
Earlier in the year, Rotherham missed out on funding via the £10m High Street Innovation Fund and the first round of the Portas Pilots but has now been successful amongst around 350 bids.
Councillor Gerald Smith, cabinet member for Regeneration and Development at Rotherham Council, said: "We have been doing a huge amount of work to get people back into the town centre and our footfall figures over the last ten months show that this working. This funding will allow us and our partners to build on that success and hard work and allow us to continue with projects that will give our local shops and businesses the necessary vision for the future."
"Our successful bid encourages and supports businesses to improve their standards, customer-base and profitability, which in turn will ultimately encourage residents to Shop Local."
Local Government Minister Grant Shapps said: "Today I'd like to congratulate the 15 town teams that, in the face of stiff competition, have been selected to be the next Portas Pilots."
Leading retail marketing consultant, Mary Portas, was impressed by Rotherham on a visit last year as she compiled her review. She went on to reference Rotherham in the published report having seen what a bustling, lively market can do for a town centre.
Rotherham town centre website
Images: RiDO
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