High street shows why it's the best

Local retail experts have visited London to pass on their knowledge of what makes a truly great British high street.
Katie CheethamKatie Cheetham
Katie Cheetham

Rotherham Council’s retail development manager Bernadette Rushton and economic development manager Simeon Leach spent the day visiting store managers on Camden High Street - which has been blighted by shoplifting and empty units - talking to them about how to improve shop fronts, increase footfall and attract new, independent businesses.

Rotherham was named winner of last year’s Great British High Street competition, and has been featured in the government’s new good practice guide, which includes practical advice from Great British High Street competition winners, sharing tips and real life examples of how high streets have risen to the challenges of a rapidly changing environment. For the first time in living memory, the high street is 100 per cent let. Bernadette and Simeon paid their visit to Camden after speaking at the launch of Great British High Street 2016 competition, at the invitation of Communities Minister, Marcus Jones. Nominations are now open for the competition, which is in its third year and features a range of new categories.

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Deborah Bullivant, who runs Grimm and Co in Rotherham high street, said: “Winning the Town Centre award in last year’s competition really helped people see Rotherham through a different lens – we have some really fantastic independent shops here.”

Katie Cheetham, of Baby Blosson Boutique, added: “There was such a buzz around town after winning the award. Footfall picked up and it really showed everyone that Rotherham has a lot to offer, with a number of amazing, quirky, independent businesses.”