Business in the Community Healthy High Streets Programme
Business in the Community
www.bitc.org.uk
Business in the Community
30 years ago….. 1981 Toxteth & Brixton Riots in South London
Collaboration of businesses came together: “healthy back streets lead to healthy high streets” Business in the Community
…and now •
HRH Prince Charles (Prince of Wales) as President
•
Over 800 of the UK’s largest businesses
•
Collaborating on responsible business projects www.bitc.org.uk
Business in the Community
www.bitc.org.uk
Business in the Community
www.bitc.org.uk
What we learnt What big brands can do to support the regeneration of the high street and how we can measure progress
Drive Footfall
Reduce Vacancies
Return Pride
• Vision and plan based on a unique sense of place • Prioritise accessibility and safety • Participate in calendar of events • Invest in relevant Pop up shops • Facilitate access to vacant premises • Vacant premises remain attractive • Social media and traditional press to recognise success • Promote and recognise great customer care • Involve local managers in success stories
Business in the Community
www.bitc.org.uk
Healthy High Street Programme Over three years, the Healthy High Streets programme will work in 100 High Streets across the UK to: Increase footfall by
Reduce empty units by
Support the creation of
10%
20%
3,000 jobs
By bringing together local businesses to improve the attractiveness of the High Street as a place to visit
Business in the Community
By encouraging local enterprises, community organisations and individuals to use space creatively
By installing new jobcreating enterprises in empty units, and helping to grow established High Street organisations
www.bitc.org.uk
In 100 towns over three years reduce empty premises by 20%, increase footfall by 10% and create 3,000 jobs on the high street • Businesses see a Healthy High Street as part of their local manager’s remit, it is embedded into their role profile •
Brands see high streets as a key part of their marketing mix
•
Every high street has a business-led partnership
•
Every high street is relevant to its local community need
•
High Streets are seen to be successful when they increase footfall and reduce the number of empty units
•
Business, the Community and the Local Authority feel Pride returning to their town as they re imagine their High Street
Business in the Community
www.bitc.org.uk
Healthy High Street Corporate Partners
Business in the Community
www.bitc.org.uk
Insights and activities from the first year Collaboration is key: Town partnership
Businesses
Footfall: • Year round Events • Car Parking / Transport Initiatives • Trading Hours aligned
Local Authority
Leadership development: Pride: • Increased participation on BID Boards• Town centre clean ups • Local charity links • Securing positive BID votes • Specific town events
Business in the Community
www.bitc.org.uk
Year one progress results Footfall: Overall, Healthy High Streets footfall has improved by 0.4% compared to the start of the programme. Healthy High Streets outperformed UK High Streets nationally by 0.8% (year one target 1% to 1.5% improvement).
Vacant Units: Healthy High Street towns have reported a 5% drop in empty units since the start of the programme exceeding the year one target of 2%3%.
Job creation: Healthy High Street towns have reported the creation of over 1,700 jobs since the beginning of the programme, exceeding the year one target of 300-450 jobs.
Pride: Over 600 positive local news stories have been generated and the number of local leaders regularly including high street news in team briefings has increased eight fold.
Business in the Community
www.bitc.org.uk
BITC High Street Champion The High Street Champion is a local representative of the BITC Partner businesses who plays an active role in supporting town partnerships to deliver their local vision Purpose of The Role
Support available:
Networking • Broker relationships between the partner businesses and the Town Partnership.
Senior Leadership team in the Champion’s “home” business
•
Establish & support local ways of working and communication between Champions.
• BITC Head of Region who will:
Support
•
Facilitate support from corporate Head Offices
•
Be an active member of projects delivered by the Town Partnership e.g. events
•
Share case studies showing best practices from other towns Offer in role development
•
•
Support town partnerships to access expert advice from head office colleagues Sustainability •
Take ownership for specific actions on the town plan
•
Generate successful case studies for use by other towns.
Measures of success: •Successful initiatives in the High Street led by the town team with support from the wider community, including the local authority and local business leaders. •Personal development as a business leader