This week I co-sponsored a Parliamentary debate on the future of retail, with my fellow All-Party Parliamentary Group Chair for Retail, Ann Coffey MP.
Growing up with my parents running shops, retail has always been a particular interest to me and it is also of particular importance to Swindon. Equidistant between Bristol and Reading and their big modern shopping centres, Swindon faces a challenge: the need to offer something different to stay ahead.
There are people with influence in our Town who criticise our Town Centre whilst climbing in their cars to shop elsewhere. We must not do Swindon down, but work hard to build our Town Centre to be what we want it to be. This is why I work closely with inSwindon, Forward Swindon, the Retail and Visitors Forum and the Brunel Shopping Centre team.
This is also why town centre regeneration is so important, and the progress on the new Regent Circus development so exciting. There are those who said it would never come, but the foundations are in and the structure is fast growing. There will be more to follow.
There are many challenges to be overcome for retail to thrive, vital not just for Swindon’s town centre regeneration, but high streets up and down the UK, which employ 11% of our workforce.
The Government, local authorities and retailers themselves all have a key part to play. In Swindon the Council had the foresight to cut parking charges. The result? Footfall rose by 10%, combined with longer dwell, yet there is still more that can be done.
Nationally we have allowed greater flexibility in town centre planning, meaning that Councils can ensure a proper mix of retail space to attract both the chain stores and smaller independent shops that give a town its character.
We are also supporting these small shop owners through rate relief and the Employment Allowance alongside enterprise grants and young entrepreneur support to encourage the next generation of business owners.
Retailers themselves need to do more. Growing up in a small shop environment, I learned the importance of innovation and customer service to keep up as consumer habits changed. Our high streets are competing with out of town retail centres and the internet, retailers can’t take customers for granted.
Bloomfields in Highworth thrives as they offer products you can’t buy anywhere else. Great Western Cameras offers professional advice you simply don’t get at a Currys or online. You have to carve your niche and offer something different. Good customer service is vital as is changing to reflect customer needs.
We all have to do our bit to secure a long-term, viable retail offering. Thankfully for Swindon, both the Government and our Council understand this.
