A new report has found that many high street shops are alienating their disabled customers due to poor physical access, inadequate information, a lack of or misuse of disabled toilets and changing rooms, and even staff attitudes. And it spells out that an accessible high street is not just a (legal) right – but makes […]
Interview: Sheffield boost for independent retail
January 3, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Richard Eyre, the Head of City Centre Management and Major Events at Sheffield City Centre, was my guest on today’s Business Live radio show. Footfall in Sheffield, like most locations, had declined by about 9% in 2012 – so coming up with creative and innovative ways to support retailers and generate visits to the city […]
Bill Grimsey interview: high streets for the 21st century
November 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Bill Grimsey is the author of a recent independent review into the future of the high street, which I commented on here. He addressed the Towns Alive ’13 2-day event in Cheshire East last week, and after his plenary joined me for a short interview which was broadcast on my Business Live radio programme. Click […]
2 BBC interviews and Grimsey report analysis
September 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Bill Grimsey’s “alternative” review of the future of the high street – produced independently of government by Bill and a team of 8 who gave their time for free; and funded (for printing and launch expenses at a Westminster reception) by Bill himself – was launched this week. The report grabbed lots of media attention […]
Bill Grimsey on high streets: bold ideas, time for action
September 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Bill Grimsey doesn’t mince his words. We must accept that “there is already too much retail space in the UK and that bricks and mortar retailing can no longer be the anchor to create thriving high streets and town centres.” And we should “repopulate high streets and town centres as community hubs encompassing: more housing, […]
Alternative future for high street in Grimsey Review
September 5, 2013 by Leave a Comment
A new review of high streets was published this week, led by Bill Grimsey, the ex-boss of Iceland, Wickes and Focus. The Grimsey review offers an “alternative” future for the high street: “Many high streets up and down the country are dying. They need to embrace radical change if they’re going to have a future.” […]
Magicians invade Sheffield: one captured but escapes
August 31, 2013 by 3 Comments
A Saturday afternoon in Sheffield. What to do? Well, I’ve just put a half-naked man into a straightjacket then wrapped him up in chains. Fun, for all the family… Perhaps I should recap. Aforementioned half-naked man was magician Steve Faulkner (right), performing in the city centre as part of the Sheffield Street Magic Festival. He […]
Research shows power of small businesses in local economies
August 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment
New research, published in July from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), shows that 58 per cent more of the money spent by local authorities with small firms is re-spent in the local economy compared to that spent with large businesses in the same area. The FSB and the Centre for Local Economic Strategies surveyed […]
Sky News coverage for AMT / Towns Alive
July 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I’ve been supporting national charity Action for Market Towns (AMT) with communications, press, event organising, membership development and external affairs work since 2011. AMT could be given the alternative name “Action for Market Towns, small towns, large towns, high streets, neighbourhoods, cities, coastal and seaside towns” – that would be a bit of a mouthful […]
