Retail and Hospitality

Overview

Our Retail and Hospitality Business Group was established to provide a joined-up approach to the current retail offering within the county, identifying current challenges facing high street businesses and working together to encourage diversification and offer employment and skills support.

Purpose

1. To ensure that Gloucestershire is a vibrant, year-round destination for tourists of all ages and from all locations.
2. To ensure a joined-up thinking approach to every area of the county, to share best practice to generate a holistic approach to building the visitor economy.

Terms of Reference

• Bring together the best retail knowledge and operational experience in the county and share great retail practice.
• Promote career opportunities and training development within retail.
• Support the work of the High Streets Task Force: collaborating with the local authorities, businesses, and community groups, with the aim of unlocking potential and to identify stakeholder and local leader support systems.
• Champion independent retailers in Gloucestershire’s rural village high streets, town and city centres and to encourage ‘shop local’ initiatives.
• To ensure that each and every part of the county is represented on the group, and that all appropriate measures are being taken to ensure they are being promoted as tourist destinations according to their offering.
• Work with Local Authorities and other organisations to deliver the county-wide Tourism Strategy, identifying the county’s challenges, and opportunities for visitor economy growth.
• Identify and coordinate appropriate funding opportunities as they arise and facilitate bids as appropriate.
• To work with tourism bodies to ensure opportunities for showcasing what Gloucestershire has to offer, is promoted effectively both at home and abroad.

Group Members

Chair: Emily Gibbon, Gloucester BID Manager

Dorian Wragg – Commercial Partner, Bruton Knowles

Belinda Hunt – Operations Manager, Cheltenham BID

Paul James – Economic Development Lead, Cotswold District Council

Jason Robinson – Manager, Eastgate Shopping Centre

Sam Holliday – Development Manager, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)

Wendy Jackson – Regeneration Manager, Forest of Dean Council

Emily Gibbon – Manager, Gloucester BID

David Evans – City Growth and Development Manager, Gloucester City Council

Richard Wakeford – Chair, Gloucestershire Market Town Forum (GMTF)

Nigel Jobson – Chief Commercial Officer, Maybe*

Owen Acland – Manager, Peel Centre, Gloucester Quays

Amy Beckett – Senior Economic Development Specialist, Stroud District Council

Amy Helliwell – Tourism Officer, Stroud District Council

Katie Power – Growth and Enterprise Manager, Tewkesbury Growth Hub