FSB report sets out plan to transform high streets in the North West and beyond

A major new report by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has unveiled a package of measures to help struggling small businesses located on the North West's ever evolving high streets.

Supporting pop up shops and temporary use initiatives for new businesses, creating mobile phone based loyalty programmes and providing accessible public toilets are some of the recommendations aimed at local Government to help the Region's small firms thrive and grow.

FSB's The Future of High Streets report calls on local authorities to create a special fund to support pop ups, markets, and temporary use initiatives for 1st time businesses in order to fill vacant premises and encourage new ventures to set up. The fund would support a mobile phone based loyalty programme for high street firms and community-specific online marketplaces to showcase local shops and services.

The report features in depth analysis following a large scale survey of small businesses, which are fundamental to the health of UK high streets and communities. A total of 39% of UK high street small businesses say the availability of affordable commercial space is important for the future prospects of an area.

The research highlights the need for well maintained and accessible modern public toilets and family friendly services like creche facilities on our high streets, encouraging visitors to stay longer, upping footfall and supporting the local economy. It also makes a series of recommendations on reforming business rates, parking and transport as well as addressing access to cash and supporting ethnically diverse high streets

"It's important that small firms in Liverpool City Region, Cheshire and Warrington and across the UK are provided with the right environment, infrastructure and flexibility to be successful; and in turn help grow their local economy. From the core high street issues of business rates, parking and transport to more innovative asks, this report sets out a raft of recommendations to try to revive our town and City centres and ensure our small businesses are well supported. Local authorities can play a pivotal role in improving the experience of a high street, encouraging more people to visit, shop and invest there, and we look forward to working closely with them. Our high streets have been through many changes and will continue to evolve; and that's why it's so important that the small businesses at their heart are well equipped for the future." said FSB Merseyside and Cheshire Area Leader Michael Sandys.

The survey found that most local businesses in the Region have experienced a range of closures on their local high street since the beginning of the Covid19 Pandemic, including:- retail stores (77%), hospitality businesses (67%), banks (62%), post offices (28%) and entertainment venues (26%).

In the report, FSB is calling for a band of on site high street chiefs responsible for the growth and wellbeing of high streets across the country, creating promotion plans and monitoring vacant units within their area. They would work with local businesses, landlords, BID managers and community groups to help encourage growth in the area, as well as lead a Vacancy Taskforce, monitoring commercial properties.

Business rates remain a huge burden on high street small businesses, with the current Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) a key part of their survival. The research found 42% of North West high street small businesses say they would not survive without SBRR. To help small firms to grow further, the SBRR threshold should be increased from £12,000 of rateable value to £25,000.

Good transport links are important for the future of the high street, according to 48% of small businesses in the Region. The report calls for a high street hop scheme providing free bus fares on key routes during peak shopping days to help increase footfall and support local businesses.

In total, 45% of high street small businesses in the North West say parking facilities are managed poorly on their local high street. Offering free parking on at least 2 Saturdays plus 2 additional days a month, would increase footfall and support local businesses by making high streets more accessible.

SCA's Kaleidoscope Arts Mixed Classes Group Exhibition:- 'Create It Together'

AFTER what has proved to be a outstanding year for solo exhibitions, the ArtHouse in Southport will be playing host to Southport Contemporary Arts' keenly anticipated mixed classes group exhibition at the end of August.

The SCA network began in 2009 and was set up to embrace the fact that Southport is home to a host of different art practitioners working across a broad variety of disciplines.

This year's showcase at the ArtHouse is now able to draw upon the diverse range of SCA's current weekly taught art classes and workshops; Kaleidoscope Arts; that continues to attract a wide selection of Sefton artists and designers to its well equipped studios at ArtsLoft and ClayWorks in the Town Centre.

Phred Brown from Southport easily sums up its addictive merits:- "I spend all day at the ArtsLoft on a Thursday and it is a real sanity saver; laughter, friendship, creativity, what's not to like?; Love it!"

Aimed at nurturing the creative talents of the individual, although each class is introduced to the same skills, it is the way in which each artist then goes on to apply them in their own work that is important.

As Norrie Beswick Calvert, 1 of the SCA directors, emphasizes:- "We are really proud of the developments that our students make and seeing their individuality shine through is an added bonus."

Since its inception SCA has annually gone from strength to strength, adding the ClayWorks studio in May 2016 in response to the need for local artists who wanted to work in ceramics. In April 2017, the suite of craft studios above ClayWorks; ArtsLoft; was set up to deliver hands-on participation across a wide range of art and craft based workshops. In accord with its all-embracing policy to engage with as many local artists and practitioners as possible, a stair lift was added to provide full access to the 1st floor studio space.

Deliberately keeping the groups small and informal, the convivial classes cater for beginners, improvers and experienced creatives alike. Over the last 12 months Kaleidoscope Arts has offered regular Textiles, Throwing, Felting and Mixed Media activities in addition to specialist workshops led by professional and experienced artists from the SCA fraternity covering such activities as Book Binding.

Creative Textile student, Barbara Briddock from Crosby confirms:- "I have learnt loads over the years. Brilliant class and great teacher, all very relaxing."

Local textile artist from Formby, Jo Landy, who runs the Thursday class, confirms:- "The Creative Textile class is a joy to teach; all abilities are catered for and the class members derive a great deal of inspiration and encouragement from each other. We cover all aspects of textiles including:- print, stitch, felt making and heat techniques and it is lovely to see new skills being learned and translated into finished pieces. Everyone works at their own pace and they continue to surprise me with very individual and quality work."

Regular attendees, Chris Rimmer from Ainsdale and Helen Page from Southport are both unanimous in their praise for the activity:- "Fabulous class, excellent tuition as well as a friendly group. A really enjoyable class" and "I look forward to Thursday afternoons, lovely company and a great teacher."

A popular addition to the Kaleidoscope Arts' diary is Amanda Clark-Price's Young Creatives Club aimed at aspirational 7-15 year olds who are keen to further develop their budding artistic skills including:- Drawing, Painting, Printing and 3-D.

Each Friday afternoon there is also an Adult Autism Friendly Art Class led by mixed media artist from Banks, Linda Heavon. Built around nurturing creative skills in adults that have Autism spectrum challenges, each student is supported to freely experiment using a variety of media as well as promoting positive interaction with the group as a whole.

This year the Autism Friendly Art Group have looked at and focused on celebrating their own self-identity in the form of self-portraiture. Linda explains:- "Our symbolic self-portraiture journey began with listing people, places, events and preferences that hold a special significance to us. The group then experimented with different mediums such as watercolour, acrylic, ink, oil pastel and coloured pencils. Going on to explore different styles and techniques, by incorporating these symbolic elements, they have each created a self-portrait that shows more than what we look like; it is an invitation to know who we are."

Additionally, Kaleidoscope Arts now offers 2 monthly workshops; Life Drawing led by Dawn Summerlin and Constructed Textiles led by Sue Burns; as well as staging a series of 'pop-up' Creative Specials throughout the year.

Some of the most popular classes occur at ClayWorks, SCA's dedicated fit for purpose ceramics studio. Timetabled classes are scheduled twice daily weekdays and delivered by a team of skilled potters. Students across the week are encouraged to exploit a wide range of making and decorating methods, including:- coiling, slab building, casting, throwing and glazing.

Southport potter, Alice Odgers, who has previously worked as a ceramics instructor in summer camps in America and Canada, oversees 4 of the ClayWorks' classes:- "Being part of a network of people expressing themselves through creativity is amazing. Our sessions and its members are diverse, each with their own pottery styles and abilities. It's great to see the students work with 1 another, to see ideas grow and confidence flourish during our pottery sessions, which is reflected in the works on display."

Norrie concludes:- "If you're thinking of making a start on, or developing your skills, why not think about joining 1 of our small group, friendly sessions and let your creativity fly!"

More information about SCA's current series of workshops and classes can be found at:- SCA-Network.Co.UK or by emailing to:- ArtHousesCA@Gmail.Com.

'Create It Together' is a celebratory exhibition and sale of work that certainly confirms the diversity and resourcefulness of these talented homegrown artisans. SCA's Kaleidoscope Arts Mixed-Classes Group Exhibition will be on display at the:- ArtHouse, Eastbank Street, from:- 27 August to 14 September 2024.