Publicans, hairdressers and restaurateurs — whose businesses have long been backbone of town centres — have been invited to join the Government’s town centre think tank.
Local Government minister Brandon Lewis says enlarging the Future High Streets Forum to include representatives of the hospitality, leisure, food and service sectors will “play a major role in the success of our High Streets and contribute billions to the UK economy”.
Announcing the extended membership on the Government’s website, Lewis says that the move to include pubs, restaurants and hairdressers was made to showcase the wider role that town centres play as places where people come to shop, use services and spend their leisure time, including in the evenings.
Existing members of the forum — which includes the British Independent Retailers Association, the Association of Town and City Management, the Association of Convenience Stores and the British Property Federation — will now be joined by the National Hairdressers’ Federation, the British Beer & Pubs Association, the Spirit Pub Company which has over 1,200 premises nationwide and McDonald’s, whose fast food restaurants serve over three million UK customers each day.
“The way we use our High Streets is changing and we need to ensure they are places people want to spend their leisure time as well as shop,” he said. “The Future High Streets Forum is an incredibly important part of the work we are doing to address challenges faced by the High Street. Bringing new representatives on board from such a variety of industries will only strengthen its community voice.”
Lewis said the Government was already committed to a £1bn retail support package which contains new tax breaks for shops, sensible changes to parking rules, and extra change of use powers for local authorities. “Our investment combined with the strong local leadership of the forum will help ensure High Streets remain at the heart of our communities for decades to come,” he added.
Britain’s hairdressers employ at least 250,000 people and put more than £5bn into the UK economy. Hilary Hall is chief executive of the National Hairdressers’ Federation which has 6,000 members, many of them running small and micro salons.
“We are delighted we have been asked to join the Future High Streets Forum,” she said. “Our members are right at the heart of every High Street and, as such, can offer a deep insight into what it is local shopping streets and local communities need.
“Hairdressers are also passionate about service and customer experience, something the Mary Portas report highlighted as being at the core of the regeneration of the High Street. Hairdressers are innovative, adaptable and creative, and we look forward to contributing to the important work being carried out by the forum.”
As chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, Brigid Simmonds, also welcomed the minister’s initiative.
“Pubs have a vital role to play in fostering vibrant High Streets, the night-time economy, and supporting the entire leisure industry,” she commented. “They also have great expertise in what makes their local High Street tick. I look forward to getting started.”
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