1. Martin Blackwell Chief Executive Association of Town & City Management The High Street of Tomorrow: Adapting to Meet the Changing Needs of Consumers

2. Portas Pilots, Town Teams & Programmes Consumer Trends to 2020 Where are Town Teams Heading? Business Improvement Districts

4. Consumer Trends to 2020

5. Driven by value “New outlook, less credit, high costs, depressed income” Getting older “Focus on good service and leisure in nice, safe, local places” Want experiences “Leisure is important. Want places that offer unique retail, cultural, social experiences” Use technology “Technology is a part of life, use it for information, shopping, socialising, deal hunting” Expect choice “Want to be able to shop and live on own terms. Businesses must meet our needs – anywhere and anytime”

6. VECTA (value; experience; choice; technology; age) - 'Clicks and Bricks' (Footfall, Sales, Promotion) - Changing retail patterns ('alive after five', pop-ups) - “Beyond Retail” (social, leisure, digital, local, cultural) Less about High Street, more about Centre The High Street of Tomorrow

7. Portas Pilots, Town Teams & Markets

8. Product of the Portas Review (2011) - Engand only 27 Portas Pilots - £100k Government funding - Testing recommendations of review - Sharing knowledge & best practice 330+ Town Teams - £10k Government funding - Generally informal partnerships What are they?

9. - Markets - Pop-up spaces - Entrepreneur incubation - Public realm development & enhancement - Business grants & loan funds - Volunteering - Art installations & culture-led events - Digital High Street What are they working on? - Skills, training & mentoring - Place Branding (marketing & promotion) - Asset management (community right to buy) - Increasing perceptions of safety - Environmental sustainability - Place Managers (coordinators; ambassadors) - Strategic planning - Youth engagement & employment

10. How town centres used to be …

11. … and town centres today?

12. Where are Town Teams Heading?

13. BIDs & PP/TTs Both have: Created enthusiam & formed partnerships Focused on important local issues, along a broad spectrum Begun to take 'ownership' of their own destiny Reinvested community knowledge into decision-making “Reinventing High Streets by reinvesting social capital”

14. Business Needs Local Authority Community & Social Interests Town Centre Managers Portas Pilots Town Teams BIDs Models for the Future?

15. Raising the Quality of Town Centres in the Future Safe, attractive & fun Destinations A balance of activities & attractions Mixed use An integral part of the offer Leisure & NTE Capture the missing market Consumer responsive Self-regulating neighbourhoods Management 24/7

16. Source: Coca-Stefaniak J A (2013), “A strategic approach – a must or a maybe?”, The Geographer, Spring 2013, p. 7

17. Formal schemes Public funding Private funding Cesena (IT) Granollers (ESP) Darwen (UK) Business Improvement Districts (UK) Lille (FRA) Salzburg (AUT) Terrassa (ESP) Informal schemes Ludlow (UK) Vasterås (SWE) Łodz (POL) St Helens (UK) Source: Coca-Stefaniak et al (2009), “Evolution of town centre and place management models: a European perspective”, Cities, Vol. 26, Issue 2, pp. 74-80. Diversity of TCM approaches

18. So what?

19. Source: Coca-Stefaniak J A (2013), Successful town centres – developing effective strategies, Gloucester: ATCM-GFirst

20. Source: Coca-Stefaniak (2013)

24. BA D C

25. Taking things forward – Researching your town (perception v. reality?)

27. Soul searching Developing a shared vision Research your town centre Discuss results with key decision makers Gap analysis (present to future) Quick wins Dream … but remain realistic about short term Moving forward

29. What is a BID? BID = Business Improvement District Non-profit management company limited by guarantee Business-led Business funded Business focused Specific to a defined area

30. Evolution of BIDs First BID 1969 in Toronto Now over 2000 BID in North America (New York = 64 BIDs) 160+ BIDs in UK Examples also in Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Serbia, South Africa & New Zealand

31. What do BIDs do? Represent the needs of business & consumers Provides a strong collective voice Ensures a sense of ownership in local desicion making Create sustainable funding for 'additionality'...

32. North America Evovled to address the 'downtown crisis' through 1980's and 1990s. The 'Doughnut Effect' Population movement Big-box retail Ring doughnut vs jam-filled

33. How is it Funded? 1) Through the BID Levy Based on a % of local business rates Money is collected by Local Authority & given to BID company

34. The BID Ballot Process Select a defined area Conduct a Feasibility Study & prepare the database Consultation – understanding business needs Prepare a Business Plan & promote this Commence your ballot – 50%+ of those voting must say ‘yes’ – 50+% of the aggregate RV of voters must be a ‘yes’ Maximum five year term

35. BID Development, Renewal and Training School

36. BID Training School Phase One (1 – 3 months) is ideal for anyone thinking of establishing a BID. You will receive tailored support through two group workshops and a location visit from our BID specialist. We’ll take you through: Where to start on your BID journey The consultation process & talking to stakeholders Developing your boundary and setting goals Projecting your BID levy income

37. BID Training School Phase Two (Months 4-12) Five workshops and four location visits to ensure you get the face-to-face guidance throughout the process. Topics covered include: Develop your action plan & Proposal document How to agree baselines with local authorities & set KPIs, deal with accounting and other company law requirements Make the most of Board members’ time Engaging with voters at local and national level

38. VECTA Driven by value “New outlook, less credit, high costs, depressed income” Getting older “Focus on good service and leisure in nice, safe, local places” Want experiences “Leisure is important. Want places that offer unique retail, cultural, social experiences” Use technology “Technology is a part of life, use it for information, shopping, socialising, deal hunting” Expect choice “Want to be able to shop and live on own terms. Businesses must meet our needs – anywhere and anytime”

40. Some stark facts… 1.6 million SMEs do not have basic digital skills As many as 37% of SME’s do not have a website Only 1% of SMEs use social media to generate revenue Small business skills gap

41. Digital Skills Workshops Module 1: Understand Your Customer and Digital Marketing – this module covers the basics of marketing right through to online channels. Module 2: Develop Your Business Online – introduction to e-commerce and virtual shops – why it isn’t optional anymore to have a web presence. Module 3: Grow Your Business Through Social Media – provide an introduction to social media content, how to make it easier to generate business and keep engaged with your customer.

42. Thank you Martin Blackwell Assocaition of Town & City Managment @ATCMUK T: 0300 3300 980 E: martin.blackwell@atcm.org