There has been a lot of excitement at The Victoria Centre over the last couple of months, with construction of six brand new 600 sq ft units being built on the first level of the centre.
Thanks to a successful grant application to HM Government by Southend-on-Sea City Council, The Bridge, the new addition to the centre, has been made possible.
The team behind the initiative put the call out for dynamic entrepreneurs—from start-ups brimming with potential to established businesses ready to scale up. Those most passionate about bringing something unique to Southend-on-Sea’s High Street will be granted a platform and opportunity to thrive by having their very own six-month period of rent-free space to trade from.
Support for Sustainable Business Growth
In addition, winners will also receive support from the SaveTheHighStreet.org team—from business planning, forecasts, to marketing guidance. This will help businesses take optimal advantage of this opportunity and help cultivate sustainable businesses that will thrive and grow for years to come.
Over 250 Expression of Interest submissions were received, with over 100 hopefuls taking this to the next stage of Full Applications.
Final Selection Process to Reveal Winners
It’s now time for Southend-on-Sea City Council, the Management Team at The Victoria Centre, and national industry movement SaveTheHighStreet.org to whittle these down and unveil the winners.
Dennis Baldry, Centre Manager of The Victoria Centre, said:
“We are delighted to host The Bridge and can see the potential it has to bring new energy to the centre and the local community.”
Jonathan Mather, Asset Manager for Southend-on-Sea City Council, added:
“The Bridge project perfectly illustrates why the Council purchased the Centre – to reinvigorate the City Centre. We are very excited by the project, which will attract new and existing customers to The Bridge, The Victoria Centre, and the High Street, while providing opportunities for entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and thrive locally.”
Visit www.victoriasc.co.uk/thebridge to learn more about this exciting initiative, or email us at contact@victoriasc.com for more information.