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Digital revolution for the Great Gloucestershire High Street
GFirst LEP, leading businesses and Government are joining forces to make UK high streets the most digitally engaged in the world, by trialling the Great Gloucestershire High Street pilot with Cheltenham, Gloucester and Stroud.
12 July 2016
During 2016, a centralised ‘high street digital hub’ of industry experts will be providing strategic advice, measurement, digital toolkits and hands-on digital training to Town Centre Managers, Business Improvement District Managers and their thousands of small businesses.
The digital high street programme is led by Argos, with support from other large national businesses, ministerial support, and a number of trade body supporters.
A new report by Innovate UK in conjunction with Town Centre Managers has highlighted the urgent need for active intervention in providing the right tools and training to get the UK’s towns and businesses in every community online. This will bridge the digital divide between them and their local community, tourists and other potential stakeholders.
The Great Gloucestershire High Street pilot is led by GFirst LEP, delivered by Maybe* and the Local Data Company, with training to be delivered by Clockwork City. The pilot will be delivered through the #WDYT campaign, and will be used by retailers and customers to drive engagement and footfall, throughout their retail journey, online and offline. The #WDYT campaign connects shoppers with the thousands of businesses, retailers, pubs and clubs within Gloucestershire to transform local high streets into the most digitally engaged in the UK.
Dr Diane Savory, OBE, Chair of GFirst LEP said: “I’m delighted that Gloucestershire has been chosen to lead the way in digitising the UK’s high streets. In becoming digitally savvy, local businesses can join forces to drive footfall into towns and cities, dynamically changing out local economies.
The rate of change for businesses in the digital world is accelerating rapidly, which means we must adapt. With the Great Gloucestershire High Street pilot, Gloucestershire will pioneer a blue print that others can adopt, so that all UK towns and businesses can embrace the increasingly digitally connected consumer.”
Marcus Jones, MP, Minister for High Streets, DCLG said: “The Great British High Street programme to revitalise our town centres is growing year on year. Digital technologies have transformed how people live, work and play. Digital is transforming how consumers interact with businesses and services, and it is transforming how high streets are used. We need to provide high quality tools and training from reliable sources to help businesses in local communities to get online.”
