In January 2022, the North of Tyne Combined Authority allocated up to £1.9 million for a chosen High Street in each Local Authority through the Town and High Streets Innovation Programme.
The programme consists of five key themes:
- Bespoke business support for Wallsend High Street
- Shop Front Improvement Scheme
- Wallsend Animation Programme
- Active Travel and Place Making
- Segedunum High Street Presence
North Tyneside Council are leading on and delivering a range of activities designed to improve Wallsend town centre, making it more accessible and attractive to residents and visitors.
Running alongside this, Advance Northumberland are working in partnership with North Tyneside Council to deliver the Digital Wallsend Programme; a digital business support package to help existing businesses in the town centre to grow.
Through its digital element, Digital Wallsend will support local businesses currently trading within Wallsend and provide them with funded access to digital tools including:
- A digital audit of their business operations followed by tailored digital consultancy support provided by a Digital Expert.
- A tailored digital marketing campaign targeting the relevant customer profile.
Digital Wallsend will enable businesses from Wallsend to introduce digital tools into their day-to-day business activity. These tools could include a proactive digital marketing campaign to expand and reach new customers and build digital capacity within the business. Alternatively, businesses can access a digital expert who will provide a digital audit of their business operations followed by tailored digital consultancy support to help them implement tools and processes to grow.
Places are limited and individual businesses will be assessed to understand which of the two digital options will provide optimal impact for their day-to-day business activity. Applications will be considered on a first-come first-served basis.
All the support is fully funded meaning that eligible businesses or individuals can receive support to develop their digital tools and online presence – all without any direct costs to them.