High Street Impact Award 2026
Category criteria
- This category will recognise any business, team or individual that can demonstrate a significant positive impact in making their city centre or local high street more vibrant, welcoming or sustainable.
- The judges will recognise and reward initiatives to create high street jobs, attract local residents and visitors, revitalise the public realm, or help with profile raising.
- The judges will also look for impactful measures which have helped high streets to become clean, green, mixed-used spaces.
The QUARTER at Potbank
High Street Impact entrant
A food and events business based on a site that’s about to have a multi-million-pound regeneration is successfully combining heritage, innovation and community impact.
The Quarter at Potbank, based on the Spode site in Stoke, will celebrate its sixth anniversary in September.
Owners Annmarie and Josef Bailey are constantly innovating and looking to expand their offer, including a current increased focus on weddings and staging larger events.
Since its inception the business has transformed the local high street by blending heritage preservation with contemporary hospitality, fostering community engagement and stimulating economic growth.
The venue’s distinctive character attracts both locals and tourists, contributing to the area’s cultural renaissance.
By day The QUARTER serves homemade meals in a family-friendly café setting. By night it transforms into a vibrant restaurant. This dual identity not only broadens its appeal but also encourages repeat visits, enhancing foot traffic on the high street.
The Factory Floor, its dedicated live entertainment space, hosts events including live music, comedy nights and tarot readings. These events provide a platform for local artists and performers, foster a vibrant arts scene and draw diverse audiences to the area.
The QUARTER offers venue hire for weddings, christenings, baby showers and other community gatherings, reinforcing its role as a communal gathering place.
Annmarie Bailey said: “There are lots of things happening at Spode right now, lots of investment, so it’s a very good place for us to be based right now.
“The developers Capital and Centric are going to be taking over a lot of the site and redeveloping much of the space which is all very exciting.”
The QUARTER at Potbank has entered the High Street Impact, Business in the Community and Small Business of the Year categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
Lowe's on Carter Street
High Street Impact entrant
Opened by Head Chef George Lowe in April 2023, Lowe’s on Carter Street has become one of Uttoxeter’s most significant high street success stories.
George, whose career spans Michelin-starred kitchens, luxury hotels and international private chef work, wanted to bring a new dining experience to Uttoxeter.
Lowe’s is a casual fine dining restaurant and wine bar that prides itself on an ever-evolving menu using the very best Staffordshire produce and working with suppliers including Dunwood Butchers and Staffordshire Coffee.
It has created jobs, attracted thousands of visitors, gained 400 five-star reviews and given back to the town that George grew up in.
George and the team believe a great restaurant should be about more than just excellent food. They want it to set a standard in the town and to give guests an experience they never forget. In the three years they’ve been operating they’ve built a restaurant that is attracting visitors from across Staffordshire and is rooted in the community.
Thanks to the quality of their food, hard work of their team, personal touch and approach to customer service repeat business stands at 34.73% above the industry average. One customer, a widower, visits Lowe’s every Sunday without fail. She has a children’s meal and talks to the team - the restaurant is her social lifeline.
Employing a team of eight local staff, Lowe’s is a proud living wage employer and operates a four-day working week.
The restaurant’s popularity led George to launch ambitious expansion plans last year, snapping up the empty unit next door, and helping revitalise one of Uttoxeter’s main streets in the process. A £15,000 investment created a new bar area and increased their covers by 12, a rise of 25% and increasing their floorspace by a third.
Over the past three years, the restaurant has delivered at least 600 three-course Christmas dinners completely free of charge, no questions asked, to residents across Uttoxeter. Meals are delivered on Christmas Eve, ensuring people who may be isolated, elderly or financially struggling can enjoy a festive meal without the worry.
As a passionate supporter and positive voice for the hospitality sector George is also heavily involved in Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce’s new hospitality forum, where he wants to rally support for the industry.
Looking ahead, George aims to replicate this model elsewhere in Staffordshire by opening a second restaurant - extending the positive high street impact they have already delivered in Uttoxeter.
Lowe’s on Carter Street has entered the High Street Impact, Business in the Community and Small Business of the Year categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
Acorn Training
High Street Impact entrant
Staffordshire-based Acorn Training has invested £348,000 in a flagship hub in Stoke-on-Trent City Centre.
Spanning three floors and four units in Piccadilly Arcade, Hanley, it serves as Acorn Training’s national headquarters and a beacon of regeneration in the high street.
The business delivers adult education, apprenticeships, employability programmes, justice services and careers development. The investment in the heart of Hanley brings opportunities to the high street, providing accessible learning and employment opportunities for the local community.
The centre has modern classrooms, a fully equipped IT suite, kitchens with free tea and coffee, corporate offices and a bright, clean frontage designed to help revitalise the look and feel of Piccadilly Arcade.
Accessibility has been a priority, with the installation of a new lift ensuring the centre is inclusive and welcoming to all.
This physical transformation is just the foundation of the impact Acorn Training is making on the high street. The business approach ensures its services are holistic and person-centred, tailored to meet the complex needs of the community and helping the hardest hit in society.
Learners are welcomed with free hot drinks and lunches and many are supported with travel costs to ensure they can attend courses consistently. A walk-in wardrobe provides suitable clothing for upcoming job interviews, helping boost confidence and making sure no one is held back by financial barriers.
There is dedicated in-house support for those with neurodiverse needs, as well as ongoing community signposting to vital services such as health care, food banks, housing advice and mental health support.
The adult training courses delivered from the Hanley centre are carefully aligned with both community needs and local labour market demand. From Retail and Customer Service to Warehousing, IT, and English for Speakers of Other Languages, Acorn Training equips people with practical, job-ready skills that open doors to sustainable employment. These courses are available both online and in person, allowing for flexible and inclusive learning.
The centre works closely with employers to fill live job vacancies, hosting jobs fair and networking events from the centre.
Acorn Training is committed to supporting those who are furthest from the job market, individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, individuals with mental and physical health challenges, ex-offenders, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community and ethnic minority groups. This focus on inclusion and breaking down barriers has not only earned Acorn Training recognition for its work in equality and diversity but has made a tangible difference to the lives of thousands of individuals in Staffordshire.
Acorn Training has entered the High Street Impact category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
Affinity Outlet Staffordshire
High Street Impact entrant
Affinity Outlet Staffordshire isn’t just home to more than 40 household brands it has positioned itself as a hub of the local community.
This includes the introduction of The Snug, a free warm space with comfortable seats and free books for people to read and return.
There is also a free soft play area open to families seven days a week.
The centre opened as Freeport Talke in 1999, later rebranding as Affinity. It was bought by the Frasers Group in 2024 and has since strengthened its commitment to community engagement, with a specific focus on supporting local people and organisations.
Affinity hosts community days with local authorities, supports local charities and delivers a programme of free events throughout the year. Most recently a K-Pop event attracted more than 7,000 visitors who enjoyed a free live show and a meet and greet experience.
Each Christmas there is a free Santa’s grotto and a meet-and-greet experience where Santa can communicate using Makaton.
Stores at Affinity Outlet Staffordshire include M&S Outlet, Nike Clearance Store, Next Outlet, Terraces and Skechers.
An Affinity Outlet Staffordshire spokesman said: “We are incredibly proud of the impact we’ve had and the support we’ve been able to offer, particularly during a time when many households are facing financial challenges.
“Our goal has always been simple, to ensure our centre is a place where everyone feels welcome, supported and part of the community.”
Affinity Outlet Staffordshire has entered the Business of the Year, Business in the Community and High Street Impact categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.