BIDMATTERS Quarterly newsletter 4 I March 2016
Ross Feeney, Chief Executive, ross.feeney@successfulsutton.co.uk
Introduction
Can you believe it’s March already? Christmas seems like a long time ago but the festive season was one of optimism for the high street. Thousands visited the town centre, making the most of our shops, restaurants and leisure amenities as well as events including the Christmas lights switchon. In response to your feedback we installed additional lights in the town centre and for the first time we had Christmas lights in Grove Road and Carshalton Road welcoming visitors to Sutton. The new year has heralded a surge of activity in the town centre with the Times Square redevelopment moving forward at a pace. The multi-million project is expected to be completed by early summer and we expect to see improvements to the high street as a result. We have also welcomed new retailers with Foxtons, Bake & TAKE and El Mexicana opening premises. A further sign that businesses are realising Sutton’s potential and are keen to be part of our future was evident at an Investors Lunch that we hosted on behalf of Sutton Council. There was significant interest in Sutton as a destination and the opportunities it presents for business. Moving forward we have a number of exciting initiatives this year. We have created a Business Improvement Grant to provide financial support for retailers and businesses towards the costs of external improvements to shopfronts or business premises. We are also delivering an 18-month business support programme to help entrepreneurs and startups get their ventures off the ground, providing them with a ready-made audience to test their products or services. We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Opportunity Sutton on The Pop Up Sutton programme to nurture business startups and ensure the future success and vibrancy of our town centre. These building blocks for the future would not be possible without the right foundations. Back in November, we celebrated the innovation, commitment and entrepreneurial spirit of our business community at the second Sutton Business Excellence Awards. The 2016 awards open on March 7 and you can find out how to get involved on page 6.
BIDMATTERS Newsletter (Feb2016 Issue1).indd 1
IMPROVE YOUR BUSINESS WITH BID GRANT
BUSINESS IMPROVEM ENT GRANT
Could your shop front or the exterior of your business premises benefit from a spruce up? We have launched a new grant scheme to help business owners, tenants and landlords meet the costs of carrying out works to improve the external appearance of their premises. Grants of up to £2,500 are available to BID levypayers towards projects including upgrades to the facade of their premises, security improvements, signage or redecoration. Successful Sutton chief executive Ross Feeney said: “One of the BID’s priorities is to create and support a vibrant retail and business district. “The appearance of business premises in the commercial centre has a considerable impact on its image and the perceptions of shoppers and visitors. “Creating a welcoming and visually attractive high street can only add to Sutton’s vitality. “We would encourage levypayers to get involved and take advantage of the financial support available.” The Business Improvement Grant scheme is administered and funded by Successful Sutton as part of our strategy for high street improvement. A sum of £25,000 has been set aside to support levypayers’ building improvements for 2016. Businesses can receive a maximum grant of £2,500 in match funding or 50% of the cost of the work, whichever is lower. The grants will not cover retrospective applications for work already completed or under way.
Apply now for up to 50% or £2,5 * 00
towards the cost of imp roving the visual exte rnal appearance of your business premises *whichever is lower
Applications for funding must be received by March 31, 2016, and all improvement works must be completed by October 31 this year. Guidance notes are available on the Successful Sutton website www. successfulsuttton.co.uk to steer you through the application process and show you how to apply for funding. Large-scale building improvements may require planning consent. For advice about improvements to a building contact Sutton Council’s planning department prior to making an application. For further information about the Business Improvement Grant scheme contact Head of Marketing Teresa Whitfield at teresa.whitfield@successfulsutton.co.uk
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