High Peak Borough Council continues to support the vitality of our town centres and the mix of retail on offer by working with local traders to respond to their needs as well as supporting larger scale retail investment in the area.
Over the recent years, we have worked with traders at a local level to help establish town centre traders networks, funded free to user marketing courses for sole traders, worked with food and drink businesses to sign up to awards schemes and have provided toolkits to help retailers collectively promote their retail offer in their respective towns.
As a Council we are committed to having sustainable town and village centres that are distinctive and attractive to all those who choose to use them.
Business rate relief (External website**)
Business rate relief is available to assist small businesses and certain types of rural businesses. For further information please contact the Business Rates Section on 0845 129 7777 or email customer-services@highpeak.gov.uk
The National Skills Academy For Retail (External website**)
Provides access to training for retail businesses, their employees and future workforce, delivered through a network of quality-marked ‘walk-in’ retail skills shops. Also, in conjunction with Skillsmart Retail, deliver the Mary Portas Guide to Successful Retailing which covers every stage of creating and running a successful retail business.
Derby Retail Skills Shop, The Round House, DE1 2HR Tel: 0300 123 7890. E-mail: derbyretailskillsshop@live.co.uk
Website (External website**)
Manchester Skills Shop, Manchester College Fielden Campus, Barlow Moor Road, West Didsbury, Manchester M20 2PQ Tel: 0161 611 7498/0770 454 1280 E-mail: skillshopretail@themanchestercollege.ac.uk
Website (External website**)
Rural Shops Alliance (External website**)
National trade association working on behalf of independent rural shops – this is not limited to village shops, but can also provide services to a wide range of retailers operating in larger retail areas including market towns. Provides information on legislation; how to improve your business; Business Development training; as well as insurance offers. Also produce quarterly ‘Rural Retailer’ which is available online.
Shop Display Equipment Association (External website**)
Links to over 200 companies that sell retail display equipment.
Retail Industry Business Engagement Network (RIBEN) - Vouchers for Research (external website**)
RIBEN Business Vouchers are aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who work in the retail sector who would like to take their first steps in engaging with University experts to address a business question. This could be in the form of a short term piece of market research, advice on business processes, or consultancy on branding and marketing. The expertise will come from academics working in the RIBEN cluster universities. Each voucher is worth £3000 and can be used to fund roughly a week of effort, depending on the skills required. For further information, please visit their website. www.riben.org.uk
Office of Fair Trading Online Resource for Retailers (external website**)
The Office of Fair Trading has launched a new online resource to help sales staff comply with the law when customers buy or return goods - it aims to be a detailed guide to customers' rights and what the law says regarding customer returns presented in an easy to understand way.
**Please note: High Peak Borough Council is not responsible for the content of any external websites.