News and Views
Thanks for visiting this page of our website. Here we share some news and views from our past experience, recent endeavours and anything in-between.
2024 just flew by for IAP Partnership, we continued to work ‘on’ our business as we are still very new, we understood we needed to focus on building our relationships with partners.
We engaged with BIDS, Local Authorities, Community Partnerships, service providers, property owners and developers, and business owners throughout the year.
New Commercial Property Owner
It was good to support a local new development company through the purchase process to secure ownership of two units in Bishop Auckland. Sam and Lewis Ebdon (disclaimer, they are the daughter and son-in-law of Wendy) was advised and guided through the purchase process to completion. They already work out of one of the units as Barber Lew’s, but the second unit had been vacant for a number of years. They did a great job of marketing the vacant unit and within weeks of exchange had a new tenant, Seaside Travel, who is a great asset for Bishop Auckland.
…”We were looking to purchase the property we occupy as Barber Lew’s and the vacant unit next door. Jackie and Wendy were very approachable and helped us understand the process, even attending meetings with the previous owners which was really appreciated. Their understanding of how town centres work was great and helped us when we took the vacant unit to market’, Thank You”
Sam and Lewis Ebdon
IAP Partnership were appointed by a North East company to support tenants in properties at Stanley to access local government funding, to improve the external of the commercial units, on a mixed-use block. Working with the tenants and potential building improvement companies, we collated and submitted a comprehensive pack of documents to support the funding application.
“I would to thank Jackie & Wendy for the great work that you did in supporting my tenants. Your knowledge and professionalism were outstanding. Really satisfied with how you engaged with me throughout the commission and your dealings with the contractors. I would be happy to recommend you and willing to speak to any clients you have, in relation to your work”
Peter Conroy, The Office Company North Ltd…
High Street Task Force;
Although not appointed as a Specialist for the Government scheme, we attended in person sessions and engaged with specialist gaining insight and engaging with those delivering the programme. Wendy did support Prof. Steve Millington at a session in Prudhoe which helped to shape their Placemaking Programme Action Plan. Following this up with support for Prudhoe Community Partnership who were using the High Street Task Force findings to support funding applications.
IAP Partnership continued to identify potential intervention projects, across a number of regional town centres, to support delivery against local and Government priorities and funding streams. We engaged with a number of retailers and service providers gaining invaluable insight into their needs.
What's kept us busy - 18 Months as a new business
We thoroughly enjoyed the process of setting up our own business, it had its easy times but also times when you just think what have we done, and will we make it? Well, we are still going 18 months in and this is what we have been doing....
We worked with a private developer looking at options for potential use of a building in the region where the local authority was undertaking some soft market testing, sharing our insight on the property and location which helped shape the submission
We prepared a funding proposal for a Community Interest Company to expand their existing retail offer and longer term options for the potential to operate the street markets
IAP partnered with a Retail Consultant in the completion and submission of tender documents to collect, analyse and present information on a towns digital activity
We developed and presented a brief for a client to advise how they could start the process of evaluating specific areas of their business and use the findings to attract additional clients across the UK
IAP have developed a Town Centre Review document to provide evidence based understanding of the current state of the high street, that can be utilised by any town to enable key stakeholders to identify opportunities for intervention and the subsequent development of projects to deliver specific priorities
We have Identified long term empty properties and voids across the region and facilitated discussion with owners, property agents and stakeholders around options and opportunities to bring back into use
Strengthened collaborative working with commercial property agents for the securement of end use
IAP have advised retail businesses on start-up and growth, including opportunities to expand their floorspace, identifying funding availability to support capital improvement works
We have met and engaged with town councils from across the region to understand their challenges and support them in identifying opportunities for their high streets and retail offer
IAP was interviewed for local radio discussing our experience of setting up a business, the current state and future outlook for our High Streets, from IAP Partnership perspective. (you can watch the full video below)
We have visited town centres across the region, identifying opportunities to develop projects that would deliver change and support the development of the town centre offer, and of course popping into shops to chat and understand their needs (and making a purchase or two)
We have attended a number of Training and networking events to keep up to date with funding, Government and local priorities, project activities and meet other professionals looking after our high streets
An interview with IAP
IAP was asked to support Bishop FM's Business Week by John Atkinson, in the form of a friendly discussion about how we came about and what it was like to set up a new business.
We also had a general discussion about our High Streets, how they are evolving (constantly) and what might be next for them.
This is a voice recording only, picture is of Wendy, Jackie and John
Great use of an old building
This little building, in Berwick on Tweed, if a fantastic example of what can be done if you get creative with a 'space'. From old 'loo' to ice-cream parlour, this little gem is now a thriving holiday rental accommodation
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.