The importance of Highland high streets

Highland high streets are fundamental to the wellbeing of their communities as they are about far more than the provision of goods and services, vitally important though these be.

 

They are also about providing important opportunities for social interaction, especially amongst the old and isolated; about events and cultural activities and, importantly, they are about community cohesion and pride.

 

Unsurprisingly, small, independent businesses are their beating hearts.

 

Recent research into high streets conducted by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and Public First found the public considers small businesses to be more important than large businesses when it comes to keeping traditional crafts and skills alive, pride in local communities, providing unique services and products and growing local economies.

 

And this matters for, sadly, demographic decline continues in much of the Highlands and Islands, populations both shrinking and ageing.

 

Halting and reversing this trend is by no means easy - it is long-established - and it certainly can’t be done by increasing local birth rates alone.

 

We really must retain and attract more young people and families into our communities and this means making all parts of the region great places to live, work and play.

 

Importantly, it means keeping our communities vibrant and welcoming. Central to this are our high streets - or clusters of small businesses in communities without them.

 

High streets and their futures have been much discussed in recent years, not least in a series of reports published by the FSB, but how are they doing now, post-pandemic?  Have they recovered from the rush to shop online during lockdowns? Are people returning to cafes, bars, restaurants and arts and cultural centres? What issues are they facing? How is national and local government policy affecting them?

 

FSB is now conducting a UK-wide ‘Future Of The High Streets’ survey to establish just how healthy our high streets are and what can be done to make them even stronger, ensuring that they flourish long into the future. The findings will underpin our recommendations to national and local governments on many issues, including business rates, parking and transport, access to cash and street cleaning.

 

All smaller businesses are encouraged to take part, and there is a £250 cash prize draw as an incentive. The survey at www.fsbbigvoice.co.uk closes on July 27.