Not actually a high street but reputed to have the biggest market square in England and described by Prince Charles as the Siena of the North! Justifiably deserving, Richmond, North Yorkshire has been entered into this year’s Great British High Street Awards by the Original Richmond, Richmond Business and Tourism Association (RBTA).

The bustling market town has entered the Champion High Street category, which is judged on the four pillars of success: Community, Customer Experience, Environment and Digital Transformation.

Chair of the RBTA, Marcia McLuckie believes Richmond has a fighting chance: “We have already demonstrated the strength of our community spirit through the tremendous coming together and effort of people for Yorkshire In Bloom, which of course is also about the environment. The RBTA has a 7-point customer care charter that our ninety or so members adhere to and basically boils down to putting the customer first and a number of businesses in town embrace digital technology. We have some excellent shops here serving the local market as well as visitors and a relatively low number of empty premises. We are very lucky to live in such an active town.”

The Great British High Street Awards (GBHSA) were only announced by the Government at the end of June and so there is a tight schedule for the RBTA to adhere to before the final application deadline of 22 August.

Talking about retail and service sector businesses, MP, Jake Berry has written to Councils, “As High Streets Minister, I know that high streets across Britain and Northern Ireland would not be what they are without the efforts of dedicated local people and small businesses. These awards are a chance for you to celebrate and showcase the dedicated individualism of community groups and business leaders across your authority.”

Since the June announcement of the awards, a panel of experts, Chaired by John Timpson, Chairman of the multiple service retailer, Timpsons, has been appointed to diagnose issues that currently affect the health of high streets and the best practical measures to help them thrive.

Winners of the GBHSA Champion High Street category will be named in each of the four UK nations – England, Scotland, wales and Northern Ireland. Entrants to the awards are in with a chance to win up to £10,000 to spend on their community, plus on the ground support and events from the campaign street teams.

The GBHSA are sponsored by Visa who are offering local retailers, businesses, cafes and restaurants the opportunity to participate in the Visa GBHS Spend and win Competition, encouraging customers to spend in store to win weekly prizes.

Already in Richmond businesses are joining the VISA competition to be entered in the weekly draw for their customer to win £100 and the business to win £250.

Lulu Fidler, owner of the Showcase Gallery in Finkle Street has already had customers sending in photos of their receipts and she is enthusiastic about the competition, “The Great British High Street Visa Spend and Win promotion is a great idea. Thank you. One more much needed tool to promote our high streets.”

Look out for the Visa competition in the following businesses displaying the Visa promotional material:

• Angels Share
• Angus Morton Butchers
• Archer’s Jersey Ice Cream
• Barretts Café Bistro
• Blush Beauty
• Café at the Station
• Green Howards Museum
• King Street Kitchen and Gift
• Mocha
• Richmond Brewing Company
• The Fleece Hotel
• The Flower studio
• The Kings Head Hotel
• The Shop at the Station
• The Showcase Gallery
• The Station Cinema
• Trinity Menswear
• Wilfreds Delicatessen
• York House

There is still time for business Any to join the Visa Spend and Win Competition by contacting Marcia McLuckie on 01748 825525 / 07740 927 608 or email info@originalrichmond.co.uk