Craft Focus - April/May 2020 (Issue 78)

Martin McTague, Policy Chair, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), discusses how community and creative thinking could be key to keeping the high street thriving As anyone who runs their own business will tell you, the ability and ingenuity to adapt to changing circumstances is crucial for longer-term survival and growth. Small business entrepreneurs, by their very nature, tend to be nimble when it comes to embracing change. But the challenge of doing that when it comes to high street or town centre businesses has never been greater. From fashion retailers to restaurants, barber shops to bakeries, high streets have been squeezed by a perfect storm of tax hikes, rent rises, growing employment costs, and changing consumer behaviour. Much has been written about their demise, and it certainly is a tough time. But I believe that with the right support and creativity, these community hubs can be transformed to thrive long into the future. How to save the high street “Keeping high streets relevant is also key, and part of that wil l have to involve new ways of thinking what their purpose is and the ways in which premises can be used. One possibility would be to include shared working spaces, pr oviding off ice facilities and the chance to work ar ound other people. Where larger retail units become available and land lords struggle to f il l them, could they be shared by a number of smal l businesses instead of entirely occupied by one larger one?” 88