Two Swansea city centre businesspeople are singing the praises of a scheme that’s helped upgrade the look of their stores.
Jane Williams and Wahid Ali say the appearance of a shop is vital in attracting customers and they’re encouraging other traders to make the most of Building Enhancement Programme grants.
Building Enhancement Programme grants are available to help commercial property owners, tenants and businesses develop new and improved fronts for their shops and buildings.
The grant pays for up to 50% of design and construction costs of a new commercial building front.
Swansea Council runs the scheme and has allocated just over £500,000 of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) money since the scheme was incepted two years ago.
Jane Williams runs the Keedo children’s clothes shop on Lower Oxford Street with sister Tracey Clarke – a property that’s benefited from a £10,000 grant.
The store has been running for six and a half years and is the only Keedo shop in the UK.
Jane said: “Having a nice-looking property is very important to businesses because it attracts shoppers through the doors and generates a positive impression of the area. The front of our building looks great. We only moved in to the property on Lower Oxford Street last month but we enjoyed our best December ever.
“I’d urge any business that feels they need a facelift to get in touch with Swansea Council because we have a wonderful variety of independent traders in the city that need all the help they can get.
“Anything that can be done to boost small businesses should be welcomed because we have to do all we can to get more shoppers into this wonderful city of ours.”
Wahid Ali is part of a family business that runs three restaurants in Swansea: Mumbai in Blackpill and Anarkali and Lemongrass on St Helen’s Road.
He’s now working on opening up a new business on High Street by the summer and has successfully applied for a £19,000 Building Enhancement Programme grant.
Wahid said: “There’s a lot of footfall on High Street and things have begun to improve aesthetically because of projects like the Urban Village.
“The grant is definitely a help because the appearance of a business from the outside is very important. You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.”
Other High Street buildings like the Grand Hotel are among those where works have been completed thanks to the Building Enhancement Programme scheme.
Pizza Express on Castle Street and the Dragon Hotel on the Kingsway have also benefited.
Cllr Chris Holley, Swansea Council Leader, said: “We’re investing heavily alongside our partners at the Welsh Government to improve the look of the city centre. It’s crucial we generate an environment and a shopping experience that will encourage people to keep on coming back to the city centre in future and spending their money there.
“This scheme and projects like the upgrade of the Lower Oxford Street retail area will help Swansea city centre raise its profile as the regional shopping capital of south west Wales.”
Contact Sara Brock at Swansea Council for more information on [email protected] or 01792 635705.
