Case study: Working with our stakeholders to regenerate UK towns and city centres
In working with our stakeholders, Boots UK is currently focusing on five key areas of public policy which we see as being central to the growth and regeneration of UK towns and city centres.
Town & city centre partnerships
It has been our longstanding view that our retail store performance could be significantly
affected by the quality of the external trading environment around it. As a result, Boots UK
has put much energy into securing its place at the forefront in the development of town and
city centre management initiatives across the UK. As well as financial support, the business
provides practical support, which includes the Programme for Newly Appointed Town
Managers. This biannual induction course is free of charge and provides newly appointed
town centre managers with a support programme covering the key challenges and solutions
to town management partnerships. In addition, Boots UK proactively shares the knowledge and expertise
built up over almost two decades of engagement with all aspects of town centre
management initiatives.
Business improvement districts
Boots UK has undertaken a number of steps to both support and spearhead business improvement districts. Our Boots UK public policy manager chairs the British Retail Consortium's Business Improvement Districts Policy Advisory Group, sits on the Steering Group for the English and Welsh Business Improvement District pilot, and is currently a member of the Scottish Steering Group.
Boots UK sees a central component of advancing the business improvement districts agenda to be the sharing of practical expertise and experience with partners. In this regard Boots UK has worked alongside Ulster University on a research project examining the evolution of business improvement districts in the UK and how these might progress in the future.
Retail crime partnerships
Robust and effective town and city centre partnerships have, in many cases, also helped the evolution of retail crime partnerships. Boots UK continues to support these partnerships on the basis that safe and secure high street environments not only benefit the community, but also lead to greater profitability and success for retail businesses.
Transport and access
Boots UK believes the management of access to and reduction of congestion in urban centres should be motivated by a need to strike a balance which can improve the health of the local community without threatening the ability of business to operate effectively. Boots UK works hard to identify the transport measures that need to be in place to improve the attractiveness of town centres. For example, Boots UK has worked jointly with the Royal Automobile Club and British Retail Consortium to produce a report on the need for quality car parking within a town’s transport policy framework.
Local taxation and business engagement
Boots UK takes every opportunity to engage in positive dialogue and consultation on proposed changes to local taxation and changes to the structure of local government funding. Boots UK has a strong track record of close engagement in local partnerships and has achieved a high level of influence on these debates.
