The Chief Executive of Liverpool’s Business Improvement District has been praised by High Streets Minister Marcus Jones for his efforts to make Liverpool a better place to live, work and socialise.
Bill Addy and the Liverpool Business Improvement District team are among 13 individuals, ideas and schemes to receive a “Special Recognition” award by the Minister and Simon Roberts, co-chair of the Future High Streets Forum, as part of the Great British High Street Awards.
Bill’s hard work includes an innovative and creative 37 day Christmas ‘Jack Frost and Snowflake’ campaign, with an incredible building illumination show and parade. The campaign celebrated the city’s traditional and cultural history and has resulted over the last two years in a pronounced increase in footfall and sales.
High Street Minister Marcus Jones said:
“High streets are the life and soul of cities, towns and villages across the country, but they rely greatly on the support they receive from an army of businesses, traders and volunteers.
“You and the other Special Recognition award winners are fantastic examples of the people that give their all – day in and day out – to make our communities better places to live, work and socialise.
“I’d like to commend you for your fantastic contribution and thank you for all your hard work.”
Bill Addy said:
“I’m really happy to be given this special recognition award, but it is a recognition of the work of the whole team. People love coming to the city centre and I’m really glad that by working together we’ve managed to highlight the importance of our city centre and high streets across the country.”
A record number of 230 high streets entered the Great British High Street Awards 2015 and nearly 200,000 votes were cast across the seven award categories.
Bishopthorpe Road in York was crowned Britain’s best high street at an award ceremony in London in November.
The Special Recognition category has been introduced to focus on individuals and organisations that are making a real difference to our high streets.
The Awards are one of a number of initiatives to help champion high streets as the cornerstones of the community.
These include a billion pound package of investment ranging from targeted business rate discounts, sensible planning changes and action that reins in over-zealous parking practices.
Nominations for the Great British High Street Awards 2016 open later this year. For more information visit www.thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk
The Great British High Street competition is run by the Department for Communities and Local Government and in 2015 was sponsored by Boots, Costa, Post Office, Marks and Spencer and Tesco.