Bradford chosen for UK’s first sustainable high street scheme

Bradford has been chosen as the location for the UK’s first Green Street pilot scheme, which aims to help small and independent businesses on local high streets become sustainable. The Green Street scheme will be led by Bradford retailer and businesswoman Victoria Robertshaw, with help from initial funding from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and support from the Retail Sector Council (RSC), Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority. Bradford businesses are now being urged to sign up to Green Street, with 30 retail and hospitality businesses already selected to take part in the pilot. The aim is to roll out further Green Street schemes across the UK if the pilot is successful. The initial participants will undertake a free sustainability review by experts who will look to identify “quick wins, cost savings and adopting other innovations that all point to a greener business”. Green Street said it will use the pilot to “learn what works best”, as well as “take away valuable lessons and accumulate crucial data on participants’ progress”. Organisers will also be measuring any financial benefits gained by the first Bradford-based participants and explore the opportunities to build a retail community “centred around agreed sustainable principles”. Other benefits will include unlimited and free access to digital tools to help participants understand, learn and reach new customers who also want to lead more sustainable lifestyles. There will also be opportunities to attend free workshops run by some of the UK’s largest and most successful retailers. Robertshaw said: “Green Street is a truly innovative sustainability scheme that focuses on retail and hospitality businesses. It’s all about supporting those businesses and enabling them to work together to achieve more by becoming greener. This not only helps the environment but can also positively influence shopping behaviour and impact their bottom line. “More and more consumers want to become greener and embrace lifestyle changes, and they’re looking for businesses that will help them make the transition. We also believe that by being more sustainable, it will help Green Street businesses cut costs, reduce waste, increase sales, as well as help the planet.” She added: “If you’re a small or independent retailer or hospitality business in Bradford city centre, we really want to hear from you. It’s completely free to join the pilot and there are so many benefits to enjoy, not just for the retailers taking part, but their customers and ultimately the local community and supporting the Bradford Clean Growth Strategy.”