Close Menu
  • News
  • Home
  • In Profile
  • Finance
  • Legal
  • Technology
  • Events
  • Features
  • Wellbeing & Mental Health
  • Marketing
  • HR & Recruitment
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Events Calendar
  • Business Wall
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • 0843 289 4634
X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
Trending
  • European Businesses Facing Increased Costs Due To Supply Chain Disruption
  • Dementia Advocate Shares Tips For Supporting People With Dementia When Flying
  • SME Today talks to Sa’ed Anabtawi, Product Director, WOLF
  • The Truth Behind ‘Sickies’
  • Five ways to monetise your business EV chargers
  • New book on conquering fear of public speaking
  • 1 in 3 employees anxious about lack of first aiders at work
  • What SMEs risk when their IT provider gets bought out
X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
SME Today
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Events Calendar
  • Business Wall
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • 0843 289 4634
  • News
  • Home
  • In Profile
  • Finance
  • Legal
  • Technology
  • Events
  • Features
  • Wellbeing
  • Marketing
  • HR & Recruitment
SME Today
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Events Calendar
  • Business Wall
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • 0843 289 4634
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
You are at:Home»News»UK’s SMEs to have their say in flagship new Future of the High Street survey
busy high street

UK’s SMEs to have their say in flagship new Future of the High Street survey

0
Posted By sme-admin on July 13, 2023 News

Small businesses across the UK are being urged to have their say on the future of the high street, by taking part in a UK-wide survey by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) from today (13 July) on issues such as business rates relief, public transport and parking, access to cash and street cleaning.

The findings will be analysed, and recommendations then submitted to the UK and national and local governments and devolved administrations to help the UK’s high streets to flourish into the future. The survey will run from 13 July to the 27 July and can be found at https://www.fsbbigvoice.co.uk/FSBHighStreetsSurvey

FSB policy Chair Tina McKenzieFSB Policy Chair Tina McKenzie said: “I encourage all small businesses in all parts of the UK to spare a few minutes to take part in the Future of the High Street survey. High streets are essential for small businesses, providing a platform for commerce and a sense of community pride, as well as opportunities for social interaction, events, and cultural activities. Sustainable high streets are key to a flourishing small business sector.

“Changes in consumer behaviour as well as huge hi-tech shifts mean that high streets across the UK are rapidly changing. We know that some big household name high street brands have closed, but barbers, nail salons, microbreweries and independent gyms can offer customers a unique experience.

“The more SMEs who take this survey, the more influential our collective voices will be. I say to all our SMEs out there: Let us know what experiences you’re having with business rates, with transport and parking, with access to cash; tell us which changes to your local area you think would create the biggest opportunities for your high streets. It’s a time to re-imagine the high street with creative thinking, backed by real public policy.”

The public highly values small businesses on the high street, according to recent research by FSB and Public First; A majority of respondents said that small businesses were more important than large businesses for the following categories: Keeping traditional craft and skills alive (78%), pride in local communities (76%), providing unique services and products (72%), and growing the local economy (57%).

A new mixed use of many high streets can already be seen in some areas. The creation of small business co-working spaces, councils taking old offices to provide services, artists using disused department stores. These demonstrate a re-imagining of spaces whose original purpose is now from a different era. The right policies could see new innovations, like creating new local banking services through the post office.”

According to FSB, it’s a misconception that online commerce is a threat to the high street, saying that online works with high streets. Instead, the real threats to a flourishing high street are having an archaic business rates system; not taking on board transport and parking provision and a lack of investment in local business support including enabling start-ups and businesses to access finance. The forthcoming survey will gather evidence from SMEs on these and other issues.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Dementia Advocate Shares Tips For Supporting People With Dementia When Flying

Are you flying blind on your most important business decisions?

OneMetric forms strategic partnership with RevOps expert to drive UK growth

Comments are closed.

Follow SME Today on Linkedin and share all the topics you find interesting

The Newsletter

Join our mailing list for the best SME stories, handpicked and delivered direct to your inbox every two weeks!

Sign Up
Personal Pension offer
Events Calendar
    • Marketing
    August 29, 2025

    OneMetric forms strategic partnership with RevOps expert to drive UK growth

    August 28, 2025

    The Seven Phases of Festive Shopping and How to Target within Each Effectively

    • Finance
    September 3, 2025

    Five ways to monetise your business EV chargers

    September 1, 2025

    Are you flying blind on your most important business decisions?

    • People
    August 14, 2025

    A Life Worth Saving – A Tribute to Dame Stephanie Shirley CH, 1933–2025

    August 12, 2025

    Finance Director Returns As Judge For National Business Awards

    • Health & Safety
    September 2, 2025

    1 in 3 employees anxious about lack of first aiders at work

    July 1, 2025

    Temperatures Soaring: Is Your Workplace Becoming Unsafe?

    • Events
    July 22, 2025

    South West Expo Delivers Outstanding Event at Swindon’s STEAM Museum

    July 4, 2025

    £20k grant for female-founded SME up for grabs

    • Community
    July 11, 2025

    Building community, one cause at a time

    June 23, 2025

    Celebrating One Year In Fairford Supporting The Community

    • Food & Drink
    August 22, 2025

    How to get stocked by major retailers as an SME

    July 18, 2025

    Warning to Small Businesses Over New Food Waste Regulations

    • Books
    September 3, 2025

    New book on conquering fear of public speaking

    August 7, 2025

    Learning to Leave a Legacy in Business

    About

    SME Today is published by the same team who deliver The Great British Expos’. We have been organising various corporate events for the last 10 years, with a strong track record of producing well managed and attended business events across the UK.

    Join Our Mailing List

    Receive the latest news and updates from SMEToday.
    Read our Latest Newsletter:


    Sign Up
    X (Twitter) YouTube LinkedIn
    Categories
    • Books
    • Community & Charity
    • Education and Training
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Features
    • Finance
    • Food and Drink
    • Health & Safety
    • HR & Recruitment
    • In Profile
    • Legal
    • Marketing
    • News
    • People
    • Property & Development
    • Sponsored Content
    • Technology
    • Transport & Tourism
    • Wellbeing & Mental Health
    • ABOUT SME TODAY: THE GO TO RESOURCE FOR UK BUSINESSES
    • Editorial Submission Guidelines
    • Privacy
    • Contact
    Copyright © 2025 SME Today.
    • ABOUT SME TODAY: THE GO TO RESOURCE FOR UK BUSINESSES
    • Editorial Submission Guidelines
    • Privacy
    • Contact

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.