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More than 50 businesses gathered at Newark College for the fourth Business Engagement Workshop organised by Newark and Sherwood District Council




More than 50 businesses are working together to discuss and put forward ideas to help shape the town centre.

The businesses met at Newark College for the fourth Business Engagement Workshop on November 8.

The workshop organised by Newark and Sherwood District Council welcomed businesses from hairdressers and cafes to accountants and pub owners.

Businesses joined together at Newark College for the fourth Business Engagement Workshop
Businesses joined together at Newark College for the fourth Business Engagement Workshop

This event was an opportunity for businesses to discuss their ideas with one another and understand collective survey feedback previously submitted by other town centre business owners.

Comments will now help form an action plan which a newly-formed Newark Town Centre Partnership will develop and seek to bring some of the ideas into reality.

The Partnership was created with the intent to work collaboratively with independent businesses that want to lead change and make a positive difference in the town.

Part of the evening was conducted by place-shaping consultancy firm Locus Management Solutions.

Businesses joined together at Newark College for the fourth Business Engagement Workshop
Businesses joined together at Newark College for the fourth Business Engagement Workshop
Businesses joined together at Newark College for the fourth Business Engagement Workshop
Businesses joined together at Newark College for the fourth Business Engagement Workshop

Les Jones, director at INIZIO Hair, said: “The Business engagement meeting gave retailers the opportunity to have a voice in where we felt we needed to see change in our town centre.

“It was encouraging to see that District Council are keen to get it right and invest money in the right areas and were listening to what we had to say.”

Councillor Paul Peacock, leader of the District Council, said: “Newark is lucky to have so many independent businesses who want to work together and are active in supporting each other. These events are a great opportunity for businesses to speak face-to-face with each other and to let us know what they want to see change in Newark.

“Businesses are finding it extremely challenging at the moment, people’s change in shopping habits, the loss of big retailers, the cost-of-living crisis and the rise in energy and rent costs means businesses need our support now more than ever. There were lots of great ideas from the meeting and I’m excited to see where the Newark Town Centre Partnership takes them.”

Businesses joined together at Newark College for the fourth Business Engagement Workshop
Businesses joined together at Newark College for the fourth Business Engagement Workshop
Businesses joined together at Newark College for the fourth Business Engagement Workshop
Businesses joined together at Newark College for the fourth Business Engagement Workshop

This year, the District Council is providing free car parking at weekends from November 26 until December 31 in District Council owned car parks and is working on a Winter Wishes campaign to encourage people to visit their town centres.

The District Council recently opened the Business Support Hub which provides in-person expert marketing advice every Tuesday from Inspire Buttermarket in Newark between 11am and 1pm.

They also provide a free service to grant finder searches, access to data such as footfall and carparking, workshops throughout the year, frequent Shop Local campaigns, discretionary rate relief on business premises and access to the Shared Prosperity Fund to support businesses to grow.



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