FUTURE HIGH STREET

Open call for ideas, concepts and opinions. We are calling all those who are passionate about the High Streets to get involved and contribute. 

Sean director at Hub 109

By Sean Alimajstorovic

Hub 109 is launching the “Future High Street” platform for all those that want to contribute, help and innovate in rejuvenating the High Streets.

The questions that we are asking are;

What do you want the High Street to be?

How can we improve our High Streets?

How can we bring and implement innovative solutions and concepts to our High Streets?

How can we prepare the High Streets for coming decades?

We are calling all those who are passionate about the High Streets to get involved and contribute.

Why are we doing this?

Over the last few years, we have seen the decline of our local High Streets and there is little to cheer about on most of them. In the last 12 months more than 200,000 jobs have been lost in retail. More than 17,500 outlets disappeared from our High Streets, Shopping Centres and Retail Parks. This number is expected to double, big names such as Debenhams and Topshop have vanished. When we start re-opening in April the shoppers will not return to the High streets they remember. Although the government has supported retailers, restaurants and pubs with grants over the last year, it will not be enough. Once the furlough and business support schemes end, waves of bankruptcies and redundancies will be upon us.

What are we doing?

We are establishing an independent platform whose aim is to act as place where ideas, concepts and solutions are conceptualised, developed, tested and launched. An eco-system for all those who know the importance of our local High Street, want to contribute and make positive change. We are asking for inputs, opinions, ideas, advice, concepts, solutions and expertise to the problem that we are trying to solve which is “What do we want from our High Streets?” Much has been written, many ideas have been put forward, however we understand that something that works on a High Street in London might not work in Birmingham, Manchester or Southend. All our High streets are unique, surrounded by unique communities and they all require unique solutions.

Who are we asking?

We are looking for a variety of inputs, whether they are ideas, concepts, useful advice or expertise from wide range of stakeholders who are involved with the High Street and would like to see it improve. If you have an opinion, valuable experience, product or an idea we are asking for your input. You could be a local business owner, resident, frequent visitor to the High Street or a budding entrepreneur with an idea or concept. Please get in touch and share your ideas, suggestions and expertise with us. Become a member of our focus groups, contribute more actively or just share the opinion, we value all inputs.

Location?

You could be based on Erdington High Street, Coventry, Manchester or London, the location is not important. We are looking for input from all places and from everyone. What is important is how can we improve our High Streets, bring innovative concepts and prepare them for the coming decades.

What are we asking you to do?

We are asking you to contribute in 1 or in all 3 ways:

  • Do you have an innovative business idea, concept, product or service that you want to develop through our Future High Street Incubator?
  • Are you interested in becoming a member of our focus group/s and offering advice/expertise/guidance?
  • Do you want to express your opinion about how our High Streets should look like, what are the problems and suggest solutions?

Join our Future High Street Platform

Do you have an innovative business idea, concept, product or service that you want to develop through our Future High Street Incubator?

Are you interested in becoming a member of our focus group/s and offering advice/expertise/guidance?

Do you want to express your opinion about how our High Streets should look like, what are the problems and suggest solutions?