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Councillors pounding the streets to promote business support project in Telford
20 Apr 2016
by Simon Alton

Councillors are “pounding the streets” in Telford to promote a new project to provide free masterclasses to help town centre traders boost their business.

Telford & Wrekin Council is investing £1 million to help nine town centres across the borough through its Pride In Your High Street Fund.

One of the projects included in the scheme is a major business support programme which will provide free support and training for town centre traders – and the first sessions are due to start in Oakengates in May.

The mayor of Oakengates, Councillor Stephen Reynolds, deputy mayor, Hilda Rhodes, and borough and town councillor, Gilly Reynolds, have been visiting town centre traders with members of the business support programme delivery team to spread the word about the project.

Councillor Stephen Reynolds said: “This is such a fantastic opportunity for traders, we want to do all we can to make sure everyone who is eligible knows about it.

“It’s a bold investment from Telford & Wrekin Council and could really make a difference, but for it to have the greatest effect, as many businesses as possible need to sign up for these free sessions.

“We have been pounding the streets handing out leaflets and telling people all about it, because we don’t want town centre traders to miss out.”

The sessions will cover topics such as retail and hospitality excellence, practical training to develop online and social media presence, window dressing masterclasses, retail sustainability and sales training.

Town centre traders can sign up by going to the project website at www.good-2-great.co.uk/piyhs

A meeting is also being held on Monday April 25 at Oakengates Community Church, starting at 6pm, which is open to traders to hear more about the plans.

People can call 01952 951234 for more information.

Councillor Shaun Davies, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for Business, Neighbourhood and Customer Services, said: “This is a unique opportunity for town centre traders to get professional advice which could really help their businesses to flourish.

“The business support programme funded by the Pride In Your High Street Fund is all about encouraging a positive cycle – enabling businesses to succeed which will attract more people into town centres, which will allow more businesses to thrive, and so on.

“These sessions will be rolled out over the coming months in Wellington, Donnington, Madeley, Ironbridge, Hadley and Newport, following the first sessions in Oakengates in May, and I would urge all businesses to find out about how they can get involved.”

For more information about the Pride In Your High Street Fund, visit the website at http://www.telford.gov.uk/highstpride

Gem Bridges, Phoebe Shufflebotham, Councillor Stephen Reynolds, Councillor Gilly Reynolds, Councillor Hilda Rhodes and Sally Themans.

Gem Bridges, Phoebe Shufflebotham, Councillor Stephen Reynolds, Councillor Gilly Reynolds, Councillor Hilda Rhodes and Sally Themans.