Coleshill's long history of connectivity enters another chapter
“There is a real buzz about the town now...everybody’s talking and everybody’s involved.
Connectivity runs in a deep thread through the history of Coleshill.
Whether it is the town’s position as Warwickshire’s northern gateway or the coaching inns which have welcomed travellers for centuries or the mysterious tunnels circulating beneath the town, it’s all about making connections.
And that connectivity now has a new dimension which is embracing the town’s important past but also connecting it right up to the exciting present and future.
Coleshill has a proud history which includes giving the world two legendary brands. In the musty rooms of County Chemical Company, a small business which opened in High Street in 1895, lie the roots of Brylcreem while seven years later Typhoo Tea was founded by John Sumner, scion of the Sumner family which ran businesses in Coleshill for centuries.
They are two significant global brands to come out of a small town - but it’s not all about the past. Through the Coleshill Partnership, the business community of today in this historic location is rising to meet the fast-evolving challenges of the 21st century.
Coleshill has always enjoyed a vibrant community spirit. It beats as strong as ever, as shown last year by the crowdfunding campaign which was set up by volunteers to raise £30,000 for vital repairs to their building and to save “Books Revisited” (the Mary Ann Evans Hospice bookshop) on High Street from closure. Now, that sense of community is being harnessed in a new way.
There are few places that can offer such tranquil green spaces whilst boasting such short journeys to internationally recognised rail, road and air connections: Coleshill itself is on a constant journey, adapting to a rapidly changing landscape whilst still retaining its true strength of hospitality and welcome. This is a town with enviable infrastructure and connectivity.
In recent years, high streets and shopping habits have changed radically, a process accelerated by Covid which brought transformations to consumer behaviour, many of which have stuck. Once-heavy footfall has been replaced by wholesale mouse-clicking as people shop from home. It all means that in 2023 and going forward the onus is on businesses, and towns, to reach out more. The businesses of Coleshill are very much on the case.
“There is a real buzz about the town now,” said Donna Billson, deputy chair of the Coleshill Partnership. “Everybody’s talking and everybody’s involved. Different types of business are interacting with each other and it’s brilliant to see.
“It’s all about highlighting all the brilliant things we have in this town. Sometimes you can get caught up in the big picture which means that you overlook all the great things which are happening locally.
“Everybody knows that Covid has changed the way people shop forever. The challenges facing businesses are very different now, the footfall in high streets has diminished and that’s not going to change, so we must react to that and look at things differently. There are ways to do that, and we are much more proactive digitally now. It’s an exciting time for Coleshill and everyone is benefiting from a real collective effort from the businesses of the town.”
That collective effort showed itself one recent Sunday morning when more than 25 traders and volunteers gathered for a litter-pick around the town centre. Innovation is shining through. Books Revisited has created “Traveling Tales.” This is an online, weekly bedtime story read by local businesses from the town, which children and their parents can tune into – a great and unique initiative. November 30 will see the town come alive for Coleshill Late Night and the Christmas lights switch-on.
The town’s football and cricket clubs are deeply embedded in community activity while the Coleshill Hub, powered by Helen Whittaker, and hosted at Coleshill Town Council, is integral to the new impetus around town. Established in 2012 as part of an initiative to support communities, the Coleshill Hub is central to the lives of many in the town and also provides volunteering opportunities to those keen to support others. The additional resource this brings is greatly valued by the hub organisers and further illustrates the strong community commitment and genuine kindness that people show to each other. The Hub’s objectives – “to improve the lives of the people in and around the Coleshill area…to promote health and wellbeing, tackle disadvantage and encourage the development of a sustainable, cohesive and supportive community” - dovetail perfectly with those of The Coleshill Partnership.
Coleshill was recently host to a workshop held by The High Streets Task Force and the project lead, Ben Stephenson enjoyed his trip to the town.
"In truth, very little separates Coleshill from more successful towns," he said. ‘"The future of the town does not lie solely in the past. Coleshill Partnership is working tirelessly with the local councils, businesses and residents to build a sustainable, vibrant and visitor-friendly high street. The era of working from home means more of the resident population will spend time in the town, the smaller retail units with the right conditions will appeal to independent, characterful businesses. The town offers space for pleasant rest breaks for those passing by and looking for somewhere to break their journey."
Warwickshire County Council and North Warwickshire Borough Council are working together to support the work of the Coleshill Partnership through Warwickshire Towns Network and UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation respectively: it really is all about connections.
The vast array of business support delivered by the County Council and its partners is available to business of all sizes and sectors in Coleshill, and will soon be showcased in the town...watch this space. For the time being, please visit https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/business-support to see how they can help you. Warwickshire’s northern gateway is very much open – more open than ever before – for business.