2020 was the worst year for the high street in over 25 years, with over 180,000 job losses and the closure of many well-known stores, most notably the Arcadia Group. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, footfall on the high street had dropped by 10% over the last 7 years, Covid-19 accelerated this decline and has greatly affected the retail and hospitality industries. 

As the pandemic support-funds for the retail and hospitality industries come to a close, the Government and Local Councils are looking at how best to support our high streets going forward. The announcement of the £820 million ‘Future High Streets Fund’ and the £1.6 billion ‘Stronger Towns Fund’ is set to support the high streets of over 200 towns within England. 

This event will examine how Government and industry experts are addressing the future of the high street. Exploring the factors in the decline in the UK’s high streets pre-Covid, the impact Covid-19 has had and how high streets are adapting to suit the 21^st century.

The key themes and issues facing the future of the high street will be addressed through a combination of keynote speeches, in-depth case studies and high-level presentations. This will provide a comprehensive overview of the future of our high streets.

Read our guest blog post: Adapting for survival - Is the British High Street in need of rescue?