The Great British High Street Competition is open and looking for nominations from England, Scotland and Wales’ best high streets. Brand New Forest is a proud supporter of this year’s competition because we want to help champion the wonderful work going on in our local New Forest high streets. This year there are even more chances to win with 10 categories, as well as the opportunity for 4 individuals to be named ‘high street heroes’.

Anyone can nominate their local high street, so if you are working in a local team or know of any business improvement districts, town teams or traders’ association that deserve the spotlight, why not enter? Or, if your local area is entering, please help them to campaign for their high street to win. Winners get the chance to receive a cash prize of up to £10,000 and a range of mentoring and training opportunities, including digital training from Google.

New to 2016, they’re also looking for store managers and employees from national or independent retailers to win a ‘high street hero’ award. If you’d like to enter or know someone who’s working hard on the high street – nominations are open on the Great British High Street website.

The categories are:

For Places:

• Village – population between 500 to 2,500 residents
• Local centre – precinct or parade of shops
• Market Towns – small – population of less than 10,000
• Market Towns – large – population between 10,000 – 30,000
• Town Centre – population of more than 30,000
• City Location – population of more than 200,000
• Coastal Community
• London
• Rising Star – to recognise towns that are turning fortunes around

For Individuals:

• Best store manager or employee from a national retailer / organisation
• Best store manager or employee from an independent / small business
• Best market manager, operator or trader
• Best under 25 years old

For more information, please visit the Great British High Street website and follow @TheGBHighSt on Twitter.
Applications close on 9 September.

Hundreds of business people visited the second New Forest Business Expo at Brockenhurst College on 3 June, where 80 local companies were showcasing their products and services.  The event was organised on behalf of the New Forest Business Partnership (NFBP) and the Brand New Forest Campaign. 

Expo stands, which ranged from food manufacturers and hotels, to renewable energy companies and private detectives, gave exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their offer, meet new customers, and develop their role in a thriving local business community.

A range of business briefings were delivered throughout the day along with tours of Brockenhurst College and demos in the New Forest Cookery School, also based on campus.

L-R: Cllr Goff Beck (Chairman – NFDC); Bob Jackson (Chief Exec – NFDC); Anthony Climpson (NFDC); Barry Rickman (Leader – NFDC); Desmond Swayne (MP – New Forest West)

Exhibitors and visitors alike were full of praise for the event and social media was alive with testimonials and positive comments:
• “Well done on a really good business exhibition – just what the local business community needs. I’m sure this event will continue to go from strength-to-strength; we will certainly be supporting you with a stand next year.”
•“Good show, great diversity of talent in the Forest.”
•“Really enjoyed my first expo! Looking forward to the next one.”
•“Great day spreading the word about our brilliant New Forest Marque producers.”
• “This was such a fantastic day for us, so worthwhile – what’s the date for next year’s Expo?”
•“We have a lot of exhibiting experience and I would like to have a conversation with you sometime about the superb manner and attitude you have in organising this expo. I wish some of the other organisers would learn a thing or two!”
• “What a successful day and fantastic event at Brockenhurst College today.”

Matthew Lawson, Chairman of NFBP and the organising Expo group, said: ”As an owner of a New Forest business myself, I was delighted we had so many local business exhibitors and visitors. It was a real demonstration of partnership, cooperation, mutual support, networking and doing business together – all in aid of the New Forest Economy. We have had nothing but positive feedback for this locally organised not for profit event to help develop local business and I thank everyone who organised and attended the Expo for their support.”

Cllr Barry Rickman, Leader of New Forest District Council, which supported the Expo said: “This event is becoming so important in creating a locally resilient economy as it brings together suppliers, businesses, retailers, and trades people from across the New Forest to do better business together. The District Council is committed to helping local business grow, which is one of our key priorities and when I visited the Expo I was thrilled to see that the event has continued to build on last year’s success.”

View the full gallery of images here

The Autumn Brand New Forest offers booklet is being drafted for publication mid September.

The deadline for any new/amended offers for inclusion in the Autumn offers booklet is Friday 4^th September.

To update your Brand New Forest offer please email us.