A new survey on the future of the 海角视频鈥檚 high streets has been launched by the Federation of Small Businesses - and businesses across the country are being urged to have their say.
, which will run from July 13 to 27, will cover issues from business rate relief, public transport and parking, access to cash and street cleaning.
The FSB will analyse the results and submit them to 海角视频 national, devolved and local governments 鈥渨ith the aim of influencing policies to create flourishing high streets into the future鈥.
FSB Policy Chair Tina McKenzie said: 鈥淥ur high streets must keep evolving, and small businesses must be at the heart of that.
鈥淲hat we need in place is the right public policy to shore this up for the future. That鈥檚 why I鈥檇 like as many smaller businesses across the 海角视频 as possible to take this future of the high streets survey, so we can get their experiences and views on lots of issues that affect them.
鈥淐hanges in consumer behaviour as well as huge high-tech shifts mean that high streets across the 海角视频 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.
鈥淚ndependent small businesses are trailblazers; capitalising on new and exciting opportunities on the high street through a combination of varied business models, with some innovating new services and experiences and increasingly using digital approaches to engage with, and understand, their markets.
鈥淭he more SMEs who take , the more influential our collective voices will be. I say to all our SMEs out there: Let us know what experiences you鈥檙e 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.鈥
The FSB says many high streets are being reinvented with ideas including the creation of small business co-working spaces, pop-up eateries and art exhibitions in disused department stores, and more unusual artisan street food markets.
It added: 鈥淭he right policies could see new innovations, like creating new local banking services through the post office.鈥
The survey can be found .
