The Welsh Government (WG) asks if you know of a business in Wales that which offers outstanding professional services, or carries out excellent community services as, if so, nominations are now open for the High Street Heroes awards, with a deadline of 10 August.
The Welsh Government writes:
People across Wales are encouraged to celebrate the businesses and individuals which make the biggest contribution to their vibrant local high streets by nominating them for a prestigious new national award.
The High Street Heroes awards are part of the Support Your High Street campaign, which showcases the vast range of shops and services available on Wales’ diverse high streets and town centres.
Businesses and services can be nominated in one or more of six categories: food & drink; fashion, health & beauty; leisure, home & garden; professional & financial services; eating out on the high street; and community service provider. People are also encouraged to nominate their overall High Street Hero – an individual deserving recognition for their outstanding contribution to their local high street and community.
Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Lesley Griffiths, launched this year’s campaign and the new awards at Princes Café in Pontypridd, which has been in the Gambarini family for over 60 years and is now run by twin brothers David and Joe.
Lesley Griffiths said: ‘High streets are the heart of our local communities. They offer access to vital services, support our economy and provide opportunities for people to come together to socialise. Our High Street Heroes awards recognise the hard work and dedication of people and businesses up and down the country which are providing high-quality services and boosting their local communities. We want to celebrate the achievements of local traders, like the Princes Café here in Pontypridd, which make an outstanding contribution to their town centres. I encourage everybody to vote for their favourites!’
The art deco café is a landmark in the town and is as popular with customers today as ever. Jo Gambarini, co-owner of the Princes Café said: ‘We’re delighted to host the launch of the ‘Support Your High Streets’ campaign at The Princes, here in Pontypridd. It’s well known that the high streets have had to fight very hard over the last few years with increased competition, but people do want their local towns to do well and with a strong business community supported by local and national government, towns can survive and prosper.’
The café is just one of the excellent local businesses contributing to the vibrant local high street in Pontypridd, where much work is underway to regenerate the town centre. With support from the Welsh Government, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is working with building owners and businesses to deliver high quality premises in the town and enabling owners to renovate and lease empty floorspace above commercial premises to provide new homes in the town centre.
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Planning, Cllr Robert Bevan, said: ‘We were delighted to welcome the Minister to Rhondda Cynon Taf to launch this year’s Support Your High Street campaign and the High Street Heroes Awards. Over recent years the Council has successfully attracted significant funding to regenerate our town centres and we continue to work closely with town centre businesses and traders to support and promote the wide variety of shops, cafes, pubs, restaurants and much more that they each have to offer. Last year the Council was able to fund free parking at all of our town centre car parks throughout December to support traders in the run up to Christmas and we are delighted to be extending this initiative to include free town centre parking for this year’s Support Your High Street Week in September. This will provide a further boost to town centre businesses during this important week which will raise the profile of Rhondda Cynon Taf’s unique high streets and town centres.’
Federation of Small Businesses Wales Policy Chair, Janet Jones, said: ‘High streets are at the heart of our communities, providing essential local services and creating valuable local employment. At FSB Wales we know there are some really great businesses based on our high streets, and we hope these awards will highlight some of the excellent businesses out there and the exceptional service they provide. There are special businesses in every town and we would urge everyone to support their local high streets and local traders.’
Voting for the High Street Heroes awards is online via the Support Your High Street Facebook page and entries close on 10 August 2015.
A shortlist of Heroes from across Wales will be reviewed by a panel of judges, who will select the overall High Street Hero winner, with the winners in the business categories decided by popular vote. The winners will be announced during High Street Week, which is taking place 19-26 September 2015.
