Call for Warwickshire High Streets to seize chance of national spotlight

Towns and high streets across Warwickshire are being encouraged to put their own merits in the shop window for the 2015 Great British High Street of the Year Awards.

The competition, which, this year, has a prize pot of £50,000, was launched in 2014 and invites local partnerships to nominate a high street in their area to celebrate the diversity and uniqueness that these important hubs of our communities offer.

Warwickshire has plenty of potential challengers for the awards, applications for which must be in by 17th July. So towns are being urged by Warwickshire County Council to seize this opportunity to shine in the national spotlight.

Rachel Baconnet, Team Leader for Town Centres, said: “The Awards provide an excellent opportunity for local businesses, communities and place makers to showcase and take pride in their local high street.

"They also serve to encourage investment in those high streets, whether through money, time or simply passion to create unique and thriving places for residents and visitors.”

The Awards offer seven categories and are open to Town Teams or recognised local partnerships, including Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), Town Centre Partnerships or Community Interest Companies.

Winners will have the honour of being recognised as a ‘Great British High Street’ and also win a share of the £50,000 prize pot and a range of support from the competition partners including business mentoring, workshops and help with promotion.

The Awards provide a national platform to:

*        Showcase success stories and share best practice;

*        Showcase the diversity of how places are servicing local needs;

*        Give the public the opportunity to celebrate and endorse their local high street and make the most of what it has to offer;

*        Recognise the excellent effort of town teams, the business community, local authorities, the charitable sector and

          volunteers, and other key partners, in achieving the above successes.

For further information go to: www.thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk