Ruddington is kick-starting a celebration of local high streets in a new initiative from Rushcliffe Borough Council to promote the great businesses that exist within its communities.
From TODAY (July 16th) the week long campaign sees the authority showcasing high street retailers and encouraging them to work together in their neighbourhoods to submit an application to the 2018 “Great British High Street Awards” run by The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government. If successful, Ruddington could scoop a potential £10,000!
Our village traders have joined East Leake, Bingham, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Cotgrave, Keyworth and West Bridgford in backing the campaign – acknowledging the need to highlight their business locally wherever possible. One of those is Mark Anderson, owner of the Ruddington Arms, who was joined by Rushcliffe Councillor Andy Edyvean, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth and Business (pictured right) to chat through the initiative.
Mark said: “Our local high streets are at the heart of our communities and many businesses are adapting to the challenges the digital era is presenting. Wherever possible we wish to promote and highlight what’s on offer in our retail areas in Rushcliffe and we are very pleased to be supporting the national Great British High Streets campaign at a local level.”
Although his popular gastro pub is out along Wilford Road, Mark says they always endeavour to support village centre traders: “Contributing to the high street is very important to us, not only because it is at the heart of our business, but we also try to source our produce and services locally from businesses here in Ruddington and the surrounding area so everyone can benefit. The Great British High Streets initiative can only help continue to spread the word to ask people, wherever possible, to support their local businesses.”
The campaign comes as a new traders’ task force in Ruddington is working on imaginative ways to boost business for village centre outlets. Sally Beards of Phoenix Flowers, Ruddington Postmaster Soham Patel and Julie Smith from the Black Cat Café (pictured L-R below) are among those already signed up to the fledgling Ruddington Village Centre Partnership aimed at attracting more shoppers and visitors to our High Street. The trio are currently rallying support for a new “loyalty scheme” alongside other village businesses which is being backed by RUDDINGTON.info.
Sally told us: “There’s a real sense of community you get in little local shops which you don’t get in supermarkets or on the internet. People ARE changing the way they shop so we need to be a little more creative in the way we are selling our products and services – and to give people incentives to make them WANT to come and shop in the village.”
Meantime communities and businesses can get together to put their High Street forward for the national awards – and that chance to win the prize money for their local community – by visiting www.thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk before midnight on 22nd August 2018.
