Town centres are “no longer the domain of the big brands” as a bid is made to refill empty units at struggling town centres in North Wales.
Changing retail habits and the pandemic have badly hit many Welsh high streets, with one in five units now empty.
There has been an exodus of chain stores from many town centres – with Colwyn Bay alone losing WH Smith, Peacocks and Trepass over the Covid crisis.
But David ap John Williams, national contracts manager at Business Wales, believes vacant space also presents opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
This is currently backed by the Welsh Town Centre Entrepreneurship Fund with grant and loan funding on offer for businesses to start-up or relocate to Rhyl, Wrexham, Colwyn Bay and Bangor.
He said: “Starting a business is something many aspire to and due to a whole new set of circumstances, we’re seeing more people across the region setting up their own business. With more available space in our towns, there’s also chance to capitalise on the shift in our work and social habits.
“As we’re still trying to understand the full impact of the pandemic, it is clear that town centres have been severely impacted. We think it’s now time to think differently about the high street.
“It is no longer the domain of big brands. This offers local entrepreneurs exciting opportunities to be innovative and make use of the space that has become available.
“This is a chance to develop our town centres as a place of work and for new business to flourish.”
Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said: “Our town centres have been severely impacted by the pandemic, but there is also a great deal of potential there, too.
“The Town Centre Entrepreneurship Fund pilot in four North Wales towns aims to give entrepreneurs a helping hand to set up business there, which will also increase activity and footfall.”
To learn more and to apply for the Fund visit the Business Wales website, www.businesswales.gov.wales/business-wales-town-centre-entrepreneurship-fund, or contact an advisor on 01745 585025.
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