Love Your High Street fund helps Beverley bookshop owner
Tue 11th August 2020
Since relaunching its Love Your High Street fund in April this year, East Riding of Yorkshire Council has helped more businesses, local town/parish councils and organisations by offering 100% grants of up to £10,000 (subject to meeting the eligibility criteria) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The fund, which was originally £1.2million in April, has been well-received in the region, and one local business owner to have used the funding effectively is Lucy Rawnsley, who runs The Beverley Bookshop.
The shop, which has traded in the market town’s high street for nearly 21 years, used the grant to partially fund a re-brand and refurbishment, including improving the lighting, accessibility for wheelchairs, reorganising the store layout, and an external and internal repaint.
The fund also allowed Lucy to update the computer systems the shop uses, along with developing a website using Shopify.
Speaking about the application process for the funding, Lucy said: “I was guided through it by one of the council’s business advisers, who was very helpful and encouraging.”
“I am delighted with the finished refurbishment [to the shop]. We had a very clear vision of what we wanted to provide for our customers and they are hugely complimentary about it. I feel that we have improved what is on offer on the high street and by now being The Beverley Bookshop, our hope is to provide for our local community for many years to come.”
Councillor Victoria Aitken, East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s portfolio holder for economic development and inward investment, said: “We are delighted that since its relaunch, the Love Your High Street fund has provided significant support to our local businesses at locations across the East Riding during this difficult time for everyone.
“Lucy’s story is a real positive example of how flexible, helpful and swift the scheme can be, and it is really encouraging that The Beverley Bookshop continues its business with the re-brand, a web presence and refurbishments.”
For more information about the fund, or to apply for a grant, please visit www.loveyourhighstreet.co.uk
Picture - Councillor Victoria Aitken, East Riding of Yorkshire Council's portfolio holder for economic development and inward investment, and Lucy Rawnsley owner of The Beverley Bookshop
