The philanthropic organisation has successfully tested the idea that high business rates, legal fees and planning constraints are preventing young entrepreneurs from opening their own shops, despite many towns needing rejuvenation after slipping into significant retail decline.
The ‘TestTown’ concept has been providing young people with access to vacant high street units around the UK, allowing them to showcase their new business ideas in one of the country’s largest ever entrepreneurial competitions.
Winners of eight regional heats will today pit their wits against each other in Cambridge over one weekend, with the business with the highest takings and most innovative presentation winning start-up funding and mentoring for their new company.
High Streets Minister, Penny Mordaunt MP, said: “There is a real sense of momentum behind our high streets and I’m determined that the hard work of people who have strived to make their high streets great places to work, shop and live is not only recognised but shared with others so they too can learn valuable tips for success. This competition is a wonderful way of supporting young people who have the get-up and go that is needed to help our high streets thrive.”
Jim Metcalfe, TestTown UK Programme Leader, said: “The British high street is still in dire straits despite economic recovery. There are too many barriers preventing young people from rejuvenating the retail offer available in our towns and cities.
“It is time to prescribe a new course of treatment and that is exactly what TestTown aims to do. We have gone straight to the next generation of shoppers and asked them what would encourage them into the high street.
“We have travelled the length and breadth of Britain to uncover some of the sharpest young business talent the country has to offer. We have seen some great ideas for retail offerings that could make a big difference across the UK. It is a crying shame that many of them may never have seen a high street had it not been for the support TestTown has provided. There must be a simpler way to enable young people with good ideas to use vacant high street units.”
Some of the businesses* that will be trading during the final, hosted by Cambridge Business Improvement District (BID), include a vintage clothing store, a luxury food outlet and a herbal remedy specialist. The finalists will have access to expert advice from a range of business people who have successfully taken the step into running their own business.
The TestTown winner will receive £10,000 in start-up funding and a package of mentoring support for their first year of trading. Competition judges plan to reward “innovative thinking, an enterprising mind and risk-taking” as they seek to stretch the public’s imagination about what a thriving town centre could look like. Test Town 2014 is supported by NatWest, Worldpay and Havelock Europa. Join in the town centre debate @TestTown2014 / www.testtown.org.uk
Becky Burrell, Marketing and Commercial Manager at Cambridge BID, commented: “Cambridge has a worldwide reputation as a centre of excellence and innovation, which is why we are keen to embrace the forward-thinking and creative entrepreneurial opportunities that TestTown has to offer. Our city centre has a high occupancy rate relative to the national average, but we are always looking for ways to improve further.”
“We’d like property owners and agents to see, through TestTown, how the creative use of empty premises can bring them back to life and make them more attractive rental prospects. We’d also like to look ahead, and inspire creative ideas around new types of business that will ensure Cambridge city centre continues to thrive in years to come.”
Image: TestTown officially gets underway. Finalists from across the UK with Jim Metcalfe of Carnegie UK Trust (middle back) and the Major of Cambridge, Councillor Gerri Bird (file 015)
*The TestTown finalists are:
1. The Little Herbalista: A herbal remedy business – run by Aine McGuckian, 24 from Coleraine - after two major operations when aged 15 and 16 for Arnold–Chiari malformation (a malformation of the brain) and scoliosis (curvature of the spine), she began to get an interest in herbs and their convalescent qualities. She had her first herb garden at 17 and realised there was a uni degree in herbal medicine at 18. She used TestTown to officially start her business.
2. Violet Lilly Vintage Clothing: A vintage clothing specialist – run by Hollie Scott from Bury St.Edmonds – currently uses social media to help promote the business and took a number of bookings as a result of the TestTown regional final. The concept is quirky but fashionable, recycling items and ideas that are so good they haven’t gone out of style. Hollie hopes to travel and work at festivals etc. across the UK. Her main hope is to buy a campervan and use that as a mobile shop.
3. Bubble CreativiTea: A Bubble Tea (from Taiwan) café which also displays art from local artists (there has been a large surge in bubble tea pop-ups, especially in London. It’s a similar trend to what cupcakes did a few years ago) – run by Haroon Ali and James Canmer, from Kingston
4. GoRookie:An online apprenticeship matching service which helps to support businesses looking for potential candidates and young people looking for employment – run by Edward Shorney, 19, from South Wales. After GCSEs, he didn’t know what to study and didn’t feel that the careers advice he received was helpful enough.
5. Zymurgorium: A locally sourced drinks business from Manchester producing everything from hibiscus colas to ‘Moss Cider’ – run by Aaron Darke, 23, from Manchester. Starting brewing using ingredients from foraging at university and sold it a local health food shop. His main product was rose hip spirit. After leaving uni, he attempted to get a job in what he studied but there weren’t many jobs available in Manchester. He then continued with his brewing activity and was in the process of looking into hiring an industrial unit when the opportunity of Test Town came up. Different environmental charities benefit for the variety of products that he offers as this is where he sources most of his produce. He also wants to begin working with local farms to obtain products going forward.
6. Tiger Print Tees: A new entertainment business for kids, crowding a range of crafts and activities into one multi-station unit, with themes changing week to week – run by Colleen Reid, 25, from Kirkintilloch in Scotland. It’s a jungle themed coffee shop for kids where they can design their own t-shirts and accessories on the spot. It’s a space where kids can be creative, spend some quality time with their parents and also lets parents be part of the artistic process. She’s hoping to leave Cambridge with new products, fresh ideas and plenty of ambition.
7. Major London 5: A bespoke fashion business making and selling printed urbanwear for men and women - run by Nav Bains, 24, and her sister Gurpreet, 23, from London. Both work full time on this project as they have term time jobs at their local university which is currently between semesters. They want to bring ethical brands to the high street and give shoppers a ‘conscience choice’ when it comes to buying clothing as too few people realise how their clothes are made.
8. Marsh a la Mode: A gourmet marshmallow business – Aine Dempsey, 29, from Chelsea – entered Testtown having never made a marshmallow but has learned a huge amount on the job.
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Media contacts
For media enquiries relating to the Carnegie UK Trust, please contact Kirsty Anderson, Martin Allen or Rory MacDonald at Grayling on 0131 226 2363 or [email protected]
For media enquiries relating to Cambridge BID, please contact:
Michelle Wilkins [email protected] 01799 529791
Lisa Hillier [email protected] 01799 529790
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