Friday’s Business Live radio show on Sheffield Live featured two studio guests: Nick Patrick of the South Yorkshire International Trade Centre, and consultant and author Andy Hanselman. Podcast below – here’s a summary of what we covered. Building on the success of the recent Overseas Business Network event in Sheffield, SYITC are running another – […]
SheffEX radio interviews and film
June 30, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The inaugural SheffEX business exhibition took place on Monday 3rd June at Ponds Forge, designed “as a place to do business by Sheffield City Region businesses people for Sheffield City Region businesses people.” And it was a great success – with exhibition stands sold out, over 1000 delegates, and, in the words of co-organiser Tony […]
Portas returns with 38 recommendations for thriving towns
June 13, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Time flies when you’re having fun, right? It seems astounding that it’s now 2 and a half years since publication of the Government-commissioned Portas Review of the high street. Has it been a ‘fun’ time for independent retailers, high streets, and town centres though? And what can we learn from town teams and Portas pilots? […]
New report: devolve more money & powers to LEPs
June 12, 2014 by Leave a Comment
A new report, Making Local Economies Matter, recommends an accelerated devolution of powers to LEPs (Local Enterprise Partnerships). The report reviews in detail the policy lessons from the Regional Development Agencies and LEPs and concludes that more jobs, growth and wealth generated locally are a vital part of a balanced economy. Published by think-tank The […]
High streets’ future an international issue
June 10, 2014 by Leave a Comment
A new report, The Past, Present and Futures of the High Street, concludes that “Despite the obituaries the high street is still very much alive. High streets have proved resilient, surviving centuries of social change to remain the functional centre of most towns and cities.” Looking to the future the report calls for a number […]
TownFunder 2014: notes, presentations and interviews
April 3, 2014 by Leave a Comment
TownFunder 2014, a national conference which I organised, programmed, and chaired on behalf of my client Towns Alive, took place on 1st April at Sheffield Town Hall. The packed programme covered how towns, cities and neighbourhoods could secure funding for projects through Community Share schemes, crowdfunding, community development finance and ethical finance, and local lottery […]
Consumers still loyal to high street
March 18, 2014 by Leave a Comment
A study into consumer behaviour, led by Cathy Hart, senior lecturer in Loughborough University’s School of Business and Economics (SBE), has revealed that despite increasing competition, town centres are still the preferred shopping destination, accounting for almost a third of all retail visits. However, competition from online retail, supermarkets and out-of-town stores is likely to […]
Future Spaces Report analysed
March 15, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Another year, another high-profile report into the future of the high street. The Future Spaces Foundation, which was established in 2013 by architecture practice Make in order to “undertake new thinking and inform the future of the spaces we live in,” has produced its inaugural report ‘The Future High Street.’ The report of course follows […]
Research project: new technology for business and social enterprise
February 27, 2014 by Leave a Comment
New Strategies for Digital Inclusion – A participatory action research study New and innovative digital tools and strategies are available to businesses (including social enterprises), communities and individuals. Can these emerging and developing technologies and services promote entrepreneurship? How can mobile technologies be used to develop existing businesses and social enterprises and to support new […]
