Helping our town centres shop to pop up

Reference: 

006/14

With town centres looking to become more diverse and innovative, the District Council is working with local shops and associations to see how it can help.

One example is a new initiative called the East Cambridgeshire Pop Up Grant Scheme.

The scheme involves giving potential retail entrepreneurs the chance to test out their ideas in either existing shops or in vacant stores.

Through a ‘pop up’ shop, an entrepreneur can test with real customers whether their product could work and also bring vacant retail space back into use.

The grant scheme will make small grants of up to £500 available to act as an incentive to new retailers who have not previously had retail presence – with priority given to applicants from locally based residents.

Councillor Tom Kerby, who leads on Economic Development at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “In East Cambridgeshire, we know there are many people working on a very small scale – sometimes online or from their own home – who are looking for the chance to test their ideas. These are the people the East Cambridgeshire Pop Up Grant Scheme is there to help – to give them the opportunity to take temporary shop space to sell their products.

“The ‘pop-up business scheme’ is just one initiative which we are developing to help those people who are looking to set up a business take their first tentative steps. By working with the Trade Associations and groups like Your Ely, we are looking at ways which we can help keep our town centres special. For I think we all understand that for the centre of our towns to remain vibrant, we all have to be innovative and think a little differently. By grasping the opportunities and working together, I am sure we can be successful.”

One example of this support was the support given to Fiona McDuff, who ran a ‘pop-up’ patisserie inside Spa Ely, Forehill before Christmas.

Businesses wishing to access the scheme should call 01353 665555 and ask to speak to the Economic Development team or go to www.eastcambs.gov.uk.