Andrea was delighted to welcome a host of local businesses as she launched her High Street Forum on Thursday.
As a former retailer and now Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on High Streets and Town Centre, Andrea is passionate about bringing businesses together to reinvigorate our high streets. The Forum will meet regularly to discuss issues facing high street businesses and encourage co-operation and the sharing of ideas.
In addition there will be events to support businesses in the development of marketing and management, including a Digital Marketing session in the near future. Later this year Andrea hopes to host an evening bringing in larger businesses to talk to local small businesses and share ideas and expertise.
In the first session, businesses discussed problems with security and communication. They have agreed it would be useful to arrange a meeting with businesses, the police, town centre management and local councillors to discuss how these issues could be tackled.
Speaking after the event Andrea said:
“I was thrilled such a variety of businesses came along to the first High Street Forum and agreed to take action to target burglaries in the area.
“Everyone who attended recognised the importance of promoting and improving the high street, and I hope many more businesses will come along to future events.”