Help for local shops to rise and revive across the Harborough district

The Rise and Revive in Retail programme offers free expert advice and essential guidance to businesses and is being delivered by retail specialist Laura Harrison of LH Retail Development Limited.

Extensive ways to breathe new life into shops will be taught including help with planning, attracting new customers with promotions and marketing, improving shop layout and merchandising, as well as improving profits margins.

A retail grant scheme will be accessible to those businesses who sign up to the programme, which can help towards making retail improvements, for example, the purchase of shop and window displays, stock control systems and changes to signage.

Business owner, Susie Lickman of Windowsill Plants located in Abbey Street, Market Harborough, has benefitted from the support. She said: “It was a pleasure to meet with Laura and I really appreciate the work she put into thinking about my business. It was particularly reassuring to feel that she really understood what I am trying to achieve. Her suggestions are relevant and not just generic solutions."

Cllr Phil Knowles, Leader of Harborough District Council and Cabinet lead for Culture, Leisure, Economy and Tourism, said: “Local independent shops bring individuality and great personal service to our local market towns and centres. It’s important that we support them to improve and remain viable businesses at the heart of our communities.”

To see if your business is eligible, please email business@harborough.gov.uk

For more information about business support visit www.harborough.gov.uk/info/20008/business_community/253/business_support/3

This project has received £19,760 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus