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Words of Advice

My best bit would be the engagement with the competitors during the online surgeries. A few lines of communication made all the difference in their applications and enthusiasm.

TestTown 2013 Host
It would be great if towns had a means of showcasing local talent all year round to show local shoppers and public what there is up and coming in terms of potential business.

TestTown 2015 Participant
It was an amazing location, yet because of the distance between finalists, we felt a little neglected because we so far out of the way. Try and have all finalists a fairly equal distance apart

TestTown 2014 Participant

Five Ways To Supercharge Your TestTown

We believe there are five things which would Supercharge your TestTown:

Every town should create a clear, supported pathway into trading and opening up a shop for new town centre entrepreneurs.

Every town should have a permanent pop-up facility in a viable trading space which offers flexible lease arrangements up to a year for new town centre entrepreneurs to learn.

Every town should work, within their means, to reduce financial barriers in reduced rates and rents for new traders during their first year of business.

Every town should carry out a regular (every five years) entrepreneur-led consultation which would feed into a business-led strategy for town centre development and business support.

Every town should develop a hyperlocal cross-sector partnership to lead local innovation, ensuring that agencies, businesses, and residents are all powerful in leading local development.