Harpenden businesses join forces with Town Council to overcome challenges

Business representatives joined Harpenden Town Council at the first meeting of their Business Forum this week. The meeting offered local organisations the opportunity to help shape the Town Council’s support offering.

Large numbers of local business stakeholders attended the meeting so organisers were able to listen to opinions and understand challenges from individual sectors, each with their own priorities.

• Retailers raised the importance of maintaining a village feel in the Town with independent shops being the key to the vibrancy of the High Street and shopping hubs, many were concerned about the threat of increasing rates and business charges.
• Freelancers, forming a separate group, discussed the need for collaborative business relationships, a challenge previously identified by the Town Council who aim to use the Forum as a networking opportunity in a supportive environment.
• Other challenges identified included the recent changes to parking fees, effective marketing and sales generation, and increasing financial pressure.
• Crime and antisocial behaviour also featured highly in the list of key concerns from high street based organisations. Officers from the Local Constabulary attended the meeting in order to offer advice on prevention of shop lifting and an update on recent successes.

In line with one of its key priorities, to promote the economic and commercial vitality of local businesses, Harpenden Town Council set up the Business Forum to offer an opportunity to business owners, managers and leaders in the area to gain vital support. It is hoped that establishing a group that offers opportunities to get advice, collaborate, and understand and respond to specific business challenges will be a big step in promoting local independent businesses. Harpenden Town Council is focused on offering solution based support, not only acting as facilitator of networking and collaborations, but in overcoming specific business requirements including financial challenges, learning and development and business growth.

Cllr Beth Fisher, Mayor of Harpenden said:

“The Town Council is keen to engage with local organisations from all industries, from small start-ups to larger local businesses, to understand challenges, share ideas and promote partnerships within the business community. It is hoped that this Forum will play a supportive role, offering assistance where it is needed and ultimately helping to boost a local economy where independent businesses thrive.”

The meeting was held at, Town Council partner, The Harpenden Collective’s new offices in Harpenden. The Business Forum is run in collaboration with The Harpenden Collective, an independent business offering co-working space, opportunities to collaborate, connect and learn. Harpenden Town Council has a successful partnership with The Harpenden Collective, who together are creating business support channels in the Town. Recently the partnership also hosted a Business Mentoring Support Seminar which helped to form new relationships, and develop a Harpenden Mentoring pathway. Further information about this and other business support can be found on the Town Council website: https://harpenden.gov.uk/business-support

How to join the Business Forum:

Business stakeholders should confirm their interest in joining the Forum via the Town Council website: www.harpenden.gov.uk/business-support or by emailing harpenden.town.council@harpenden.gov.uk.

The Harpenden Business Forum is one of a number of initiatives by Harpenden Town Council that supports local organisations. Recently, they hosted a Business Mentoring event in partnership with Hertfordshire Institute of Directors, The Harpenden Collective and The Association of Business Mentors. The partners were overwhelmed by the positive reaction to this event. More about the Town Council’s objectives, partnerships and current news is available on their website: www.harpenden.gov.uk.

Download this statement here.