South Lakes Development Trust

Our Shop Doctor has recently been active in Carlisle  and the News and Star have carried some interesting comment on the work being undertaken and why other areas should consider seeking the professional but highly practical advice available.
Read their opinion here
Additionally a two page spread carried in the News and Star interviewed stall holders accessing the help, [...]

A total of 24 retail businesses in Brampton, Longtown and Dalston have now been visited by our ‘Shop Doctor’ as part of Carlisle City Councils “Give you business a boost”  initiative.
The visits assess those important  first impressions made on customers, look at how the businesses can improve their external and internal image, identifies opportunties to improve layout, [...]

Retail businesses in Brampton, Longtown and Dalston are able to access specialised retail advice from SLDT’s Shop Doctor thanks to a new initiative funded by Carlisle City Council.
Over 40 shops will be able to access FREE advice and receive recommendations to help revitalise their businesses.
The initiative also includes opportunity to attend evening workshop activities and Welcome [...]

This bespoke retail support programme funded by Carlisle City Council was officially launched yesterday (16th Februry) at Half Moon Wholefoods in Brampton.
‘Shop Doctor’ Bill Smith was on hand to undertake an initial diagnosis of issues affecting this specialist business, and to offer advice on ways that business performance could be improved.
The visit will be supported by a snapshot [...]

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January will see the launch of our new  “When it comes to”   initiative to help extend delivery of our skills in
Connecting Communities, Finding Solutions

On the 4th December Communities Secretary John Denham announced that the Government were going to make a further £2.6 million available to fifty more high streets.
The Government is attempting to make sure that town centres remain vibrant places and, earlier this year, it put in place a fund to help many of the hardest hit areas reopen or re-use empty [...]

Following our successful consultation event with business representatives in Longtown on 28th October initial analysis of the issues raised has highlighted a number of key areas that impact on the economic vibrancy of the Town.
Further work now needs to be undertaken to formulate an Action Plan of how the issues can be addressed and identify those organisations that would [...]

SLDT will be facilitating one of our innovative Countdown Consultation events at Longtown on 28th October to help identify and prioritise key issues impacting on economic development in the Town.
The event has been commissioned by Carlisle City Council and will help inform the development of the Longtown Economic Action Plan in relation to five business sectors:

Agri-business
Retail
Manufacturing [...]

Carlisle City Council has contracted SLDT to deliver a Retail Revitalisation Programme to small independent retailers operating within the City Councils boundary.
Up to 24 retailers will benefit from receiving specialised ‘one to one’ advice from SLDT’s ‘in house’ Shop Doctor, Bill Smith,  who will identify opportunities for them to improve their business vitality. The advice forms part [...]