High Street Impact Award
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.
Keep It Local
High Street Impact Award entrant
Father and son team Andrew and Harry Nixon have made it their business to support Staffordshire designers, makers and creative businesses.
Launched during the second lockdown as an Instagram page to promote local businesses, Keep It Local now has a flagship store in Longton and pop-up shops around Stoke-on-Trent including in the Potteries Shopping Centre.
It currently celebrates and supports 120 local artisans by showcasing and selling their wares in a beautifully curated and professionally styled venue.
Over the last 18 months Andrew and Harry have generated £108,000 of income for their makers through sales in its stores and with a new store planned for Newcastle-under- Lyme they expect this figure to continue to grow.
Harry, aged 19, has completed his college course and dad Andrew, 41, has left his job as a delivery driver so that they can work on the business full-time alongside one additional member of staff.
“We’ve had a lot of support from the local community. It’s been amazing,” said Harry. “We sell a wide range of items including candles, bags, earrings and jewellery and we always make sure that everything has been made locally.
“Some of our makers have never sold their work before and others are already selling at big exhibitions as well as through us.”
Keep It Local is taking over a Potteries Shopping Centre unit, in Stoke-on-Trent city centre, for the Christmas run up from October 1 until Christmas Eve. It is being billed as Staffordshire’s First Ever Creative Department Store and is set to include two floors of ‘creative magic’ including workshops, events and creative activities.
Harry added: “We took a punt in deciding to both make this our full-time job and it’s paying off.”
Keep It Local has entered the High Street Impact category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
I Do Bridal
High Street Impact Award entrant
Julia Langton-Virr has made it her mission to help people who may otherwise feel excluded by the bridal industry.
She originally set up I Do Bridal to offer second-hand wedding dresses for people who can’t afford the prices at more elitist wedding retailers but discovered that her eco-friendly option also appeals to people who could afford to pay more but don’t want to.
Her inclusive ethos has also made her a popular choice for LGBTQ+ weddings. She actively welcomes breastfeeding mums, families with small children are catered for with a toy corner and even guide dogs are welcome.
Originally based in Burslem, I Do Bridal is now located in Piccadilly in Stoke-on-Trent city centre where the inclusive and welcoming fitting room experience includes a coffee machine and sofas.
Julia, who runs the business singlehandedly, moved into the bridal industry after a 26 year career in HR and training.
She said: “It’s important that customers feel that they can be themselves. We focus on delivering inclusive and welcoming dress buying experiences for all sectors of our community to ensure that buying the perfect dress can be joyous and stress free.
“We are actively LGBTQ+ welcoming because I believe love is love and everyone deserves to feel celebrated on their special day. We also make sure families with small children feel at home.
“The wedding dress industry can often feel very elite so our welcoming atmosphere means young children are happy to be entertained in our toy corner while dresses are being tried on. In addition we make sure breastfeeding mums are made to feel very welcome as well encouraging guide dogs too.
“We share our message clearly on social media, on our website as well as crafting special window displays so that no one in our community feels left out of a wedding dress experiences they dream of.”
I Do Bridal supports the city centre and fellow businesses wherever possible including taking part in city centre events and creating eye-catching window displays.
Julia added: “I’m a people person. That’s what appealed to me about working in HR at the start of my career and it’s what I’m doing now. I’m looking after brides and their families.”
I Do Bridal has entered the High Street Impact category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
GRN Financial Services
High Street Impact entrant
A financial services company committed to promoting the Staffordshire Moorlands town where it has a high street base has nearly doubled its turnover since 2021.
GRN Financial Services launched in Leek six years ago and has since helped hundreds of people find a home.
Owners Aga and Tom Gronkiewicz have a second mission, to promote their adopted town of Leek and the surrounding Staffordshire Moorlands countryside.
“We are based in the heart of Leek and the desire to serve the town has always been at the heart of our plans,” said Aga.
Husband and wife, Tom and Aga made Leek their home after arriving in England from their native Poland – and they fell in love with the Moorlands market town.
GRN is the only shop-front town centre business in Leek to purely specialise in mortgage and insurance protection services.
This is important to Aga and Tom, they believe people should have an opportunity to pop into their premises, enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, and be able to discuss their needs.
Aga and Tom are determined to remain committed to Leek and have plans to invest in larger premises in the town, as part of a strategy for growth.
Aga said: “We took a leap of faith to leave our home in Poland and come to England. Thankfully, we found Leek and we have been made to feel incredibly welcome. We want to pay that back in any way we can.
“I am delighted to have been elected as a member of the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce Staffordshire Moorlands Advisory Board and our business has this year become a member of Totally Locally, supporting business growth in Leek.
“We always signpost any visitors to Leek town centre shops where we can and think the little things are important, such as ordering in great coffee when people come into our office.
“Leek town centres is the heart of local business, and we want to collaborate with other companies to ensure it continues to thrive.
A careful bounce back strategy following Covid has left GRN in good shape. Turnover increased from £65,874 in 2021 to £119,415, and £123,354 in the current year.
Aga and Tom have introduced their older son, Filip, into the business and their growth plan is to employ two more case managers.
Aga and Tom each completed five years as financial advisers before founding GRN in 2018.
The company provides a wide range of mortgage, insurance and protection services, with Aga handling the mortgage business and Tom supporting clients with matters such as business and health insurance.
GRN Financial Services has entered the High Street Impact and Business in the Community categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
GRN Financial Services Limited is an Appointed Representative of PRIMIS Mortgage Network, a trading name of Personal Touch Financial Services Ltd. Personal Touch Financial Services Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Jake Burgess and Castle Artisan Events
High Street Impact entrant
Jake Burgess was just 19 years old when he co-founded a business that’s helping to transform high streets around the region.
Four years later Castle Artisan Events stages regular markets in Newcastle-under-Lyme, has expanded into Stoke-on-Trent City Centre and Nantwich and is now lining up other town centre locations.
Now aged 23, Jake, from May Bank in Newcastle-under-Lyme, runs the business after initially devising the concept with his parents.
He has been nominated in the High Street Impact and Young Business Person of the Year categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards by Sarah Allen from the PR company Shoestring.
Sarah said: “Jake’s motivation is deeply rooted in a genuine love for his hometown and its surrounding areas. His initiative is not just about providing a platform for local artisans; it’s about creating a community-centric space where the talents of local residents are celebrated, and the economic well-being of traditional high street businesses is enhanced.
“By focusing on local talent and businesses, Jake ensures that the benefits of the markets ripple through the local economy, reinforcing the importance of supporting and shopping local in an increasingly globalised world.
“Jake’s markets have also contributed to the aesthetic and environmental revitalisation of the high streets, with careful consideration given to the layout, design and operation of the markets to ensure they are clean and welcoming spaces for all.”
She added: “Jake Burgess’s impact on Staffordshire’s high streets is immeasurable. Through his leadership and community-focused initiatives, he has demonstrated an exemplary commitment to making our city centres and local high streets more vibrant, welcoming and sustainable.
“His work aligns perfectly with the criteria for the High Street Impact award, showcasing a successful model for revitalising public realms, creating high-street jobs, attracting local residents and visitors and raising the profile of the towns he collaborates with.”
The markets aim to benefit not only the artisans who display their work but also the brick-and-mortar businesses that line the streets. These businesses have witnessed a tangible uplift in customer engagement and sales on market days thanks in large part to the bustling atmosphere the market brings.
Castle Artisan Market has already won three community-led awards and has become a much-anticipated monthly tradition for residents and visitors alike.
Unique Carpets and Flooring
High Street Impact entrant
At just 24 years old Hassan Ali Sheikh is already running a business that has a team of eight staff and a city centre premises.
Hassan, from Shelton in Stoke-on-Trent, was still in primary school when his mum founded Unique Carpets and Flooring 15 years ago.
He joined the business as a teenager after studying for A Levels at Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College and now runs day-to-day operations including a showroom in Broad Street, Hanley.
Hassan has a team of three showroom staff plus five contractors who fit carpets and flooring for both domestic and business clients across Staffordshire.
“I just fell into working in the business after leaving college and it’s going well. The business continues to develop and grow,” said Hassan.
“I want to be the best. I want to offer the best service, the best quality products, the best quality installations and to be the go-to place when people want to buy the best.
“We’re a family-run business, very competitively priced and have quick installations times. We also pride ourselves on offering the personal touch.
“All our staff, across both teams, are very professional, fully trained and attend numerous courses with manufacturers.”
Hassan has entered the Young Business Person of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards and has entered Unique Carpets and Flooring into the High Street Impact and Small Business of the Year categories.
Dr M Sha
High Street Impact Award entrant
Dr M Sha is a first generation immigrant woman determined to create an empire from scratch.
The 35-year-old has launched an aesthetics and wellness clinic alongside her work as a GP.
She opened her first aesthetics clinic within M Club in Stoke-on-Trent in August 2023 and has ambitions to open a clinic in the city centre.
“When people talk about aesthetics they think about overly filled cheeks and lips. It’s so much more than that,” she said. “I want to specialise in menopause-related skin and scalp problems and to introduce aesthetics treatments for men.
“A very important part of the process is talking to people about why they want a procedure and whether to go ahead with it. We talk about whether their health and self-esteem is being affected because treating that is more important.”
Dr Sha, who works as an out of hours GP and also as an aesthetics trainer for The Harley Institute in London, says that Stoke-on-Trent doesn’t currently have many doctor-led aesthetics clinics.
She is currently the only practitioner at her clinic but says her husband, a research scientist, researches the treatments and products she offers before they are introduced.
Dr Sha added: “My small clinic is in the massive MClub Spa and Fitness Centre and its owner, Mo Chaudry is an absolute inspiration. I wish I could be the next Mo for Stoke-on-Trent and my family.”
She has entered five categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards – Small Business of the Year, Young Business Person of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Business in the Community and High Street Impact.
Andrea Harrison
High Street Impact Award entrant
An award-winning couture designer who won Collection of the Year at Graduate Fashion Week is making her one-off, bespoke creations in the heart of Burslem.
Andrea Harrison has been commissioned by The British Council, styled a fashion shoot for a pop singer and had a fashion show in Hong Kong.
After working as a fashion designer in London the 45-year-old moved back to the Midlands to set up her own business in 2017.
From her base in Price Street, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, she designs and makes wedding and special occasion wear.
“What makes me different is that I’m a couture designer,” said Andrea, from Biddulph. “I make one off pieces for customers who often can’t find what they are looking for elsewhere.
“My customers are often women who don’t want to go to bridal stores and want something personal to them. A lot of the time they want something a bit different, sometimes in different colours. They come to me because they can’t find what they’re looking for or want something more luxurious.”
Andrea began by customising clothing for herself and friends when she was still at school then took a BTEC in fashion and textiles at Mid Cheshire College.
“I realised I absolutely loved fashion. I loved all the aspects of it. It kept my interest because it’s so broad based.”
After graduating from a fashion degree at Northampton the mum-of-one exhibited at Graduate Fashion Week and won the prize for Collection of the Year.
That led to her being commissioned by The British Council to travel to Egypt to style a fashion shoot for the singer Natacha Atllas.
The British Council also later commissioned her to put on a fashion show in Hong Kong, after earlier flying her out for a research trip.
When Andrea completed an MA in women’s wear at Central Saint Martins in London she thought she’d completed her university education. But at the end of 2022 she heard about Staffordshire University’s Peter Coates MSc in Entrepreneurship.
As part of the first cohort of the course she has been working on plans to scale her business.
Andrea currently designs and produces all of her own pieces but is now looking to recruit a team of pattern cutters and seamstresses to support her work.
She added: “I wasn’t planning on doing anything like this course at all but after I heard about it I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It’s given me the time and space to work on my business instead of in it.”
Andrea Harrison has entered the High Street Impact, Alumni Business Person of the Year and Small Business of the Year categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
Footsteps
High Street Impact Award entrant
Emma Priestman’s shoe shop is based in the Staffordshire Moorlands but its reputation is international.
Footprints, in Derby Street, Leek, regularly attracts customers from as far afield as the US and Denmark who make the most of the sort of service they tell Emma they simply can’t find back home.
A former children’s day nursery manager, Emma opened her specialist children’s shoe shop in 2006.
18 years later the business that was originally designed to fit around her young family is still going strong and Emma is diversifying.
After nearly two decades of focussing on children’s feet she’s now branching out into adult footwear too with a particular focus on ‘good shoes for the elderly’ and shoes for medical staff, hairdressers and others who spend their working life on their feet.
Emma is also working on a community element to her business where she takes her expertise into the likes of retirement villages, GP surgeries and mother and toddler groups to ensure people understand the importance of wearing correctly-fitting shoes.
“I’m really proud about what I do and the service I offer. I like to think our customer service is second to none,” said Emma, who currently has one member of staff but is looking to recruit a team to work for her expanded business.
“We have a lot of customers from Leek and the surrounding areas but people also travel to us from Cheshire and Derbyshire.
“We also have repeat customers from overseas who buy from us when they’re visiting family in the UK and say there isn’t a shop like ours where they live.”
Emma is currently studying on the Peter Coates MSc in Entrepreneurship, where she is honing the expansion plans for Footprints.
“It’s a fantastic course. It’s been like a breath of fresh air for me to be exposed to other entrepreneurs and so many inspirational speakers,” she said.
Footprints has been entered into the High Street Impact and Small Business of the Year categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards and Emma has entered the Alumni Business Person of the Year category.
Vellichor Books
High Street Impact Award entrant
Mitch Hughes says his partner is delighted he’s opened a book shop – because now he hoards books at work rather than at home.
The 30-year-old, from Fenton, opened Vellichor Books in Piccadilly Arcade, Hanley on February 3.
He sells new and preloved books, has a café area and has opened up a first floor community room that groups can use free of charge.
“I’ve always loved the idea of having my own book shop,” said Mitch, who previously worked as a teaching assistant and support worker.
“Maybe it’s because I used to watch the comedy series Black Books. It’s something I’ve wanted for so long.
“Then some friends of mine opened Geek Retreat in the city centre and I thought if they could do it then I could too. Once I decided to do it everything moved quickly.”
Community impact is important to Mitch so he created a room on the first floor, complete with chairs and beanbags, that he hopes will be used for book club meetings, book launches, artists’ workshops and more.
“I think it’s especially important to have this sort of offer in Hanley,” said Mitch. “It could even be that a group of friends would like to use the space as somewhere quiet to study. I want to sell books and I’d like people to buy drinks but I also want Vellichor to be a community.”
The shop sells books of all genres although Mitch says he has a personal interest in horror writing and will also be stocking comics.
He added: “I love reading and I just love being around books and collecting books. My partner is happy because now I’m collecting them at the shop rather than at home.”
Vellichor Books has entered the High Street Impact and Business in the Community categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.