Commenting on the government’s new Welcome Back Fund to encourage
greater visitors to high streets once restrictions ease, Cllr
David Renard, Economy Spokesperson for the Local Government
Association said:
“Councils continue to lead local efforts to support businesses
through the pandemic and share the excitement about the prospect
of our high streets and non-essential shops reopening again
“After a hugely challenging time, local businesses will continue
to need support. This new funding will support ongoing council
efforts to help local businesses to prepare to reopen safely and
successfully when restrictions start to ease.
“We pleased that this is a more flexible fund and that councils
are able to make decisions on how it is used in their local area
to maximise the impact.”
Case Studies:
Watford Borough Council: The Council set up a Business Recovery
and Growth fund, helping nearly 300 businesses in the town with
free advice and skills training to help them through the
challenging lockdown period. The council also teamed up with tech
giant WhatsApp to create the UK’s first WhatsApp High Street,
making use of the WhatsApp Business App to enable businesses to
communicate with customers in a new and innovative way.
Lichfield District Council: The Council launched a ‘#LoveLocal’
campaign, encouraging residents to return to their local high
streets, providing a high profile campaign across the council
area and materials for local businesses. They also had a
dedicated information officer to provide 1:1 safety advice to
local businesses about how to reopen in a COVID-secure manner.
London Borough of Newham: The council are working to create new
‘15 minute neighbourhoods’, with changes to street scape and more
pedestrian friendly areas, encouraging greater social distancing
and more people to walk and cycle to their local high streets.
Ends
Notes to editors
The initiatives featured in the case studies listed above were
funded through a variety of different ways, including the
government’s previous Reopening High Street’s Safely Fund.
