Previous ACT Projects

Revitalising Retail Programme

The Revitalising Retail Programme was based on the activities and good practice of the Cumbria Rural Retail Advisory Partnership (which ACT led the way in forming during 2007) and the Community Solutions Project, a support programme for rural businesses and social enterprises, from which the Revitalising Retail Programme grew.

The Revitalising Retail Programme was last run by ACT in partnership with Eden District Council and South Lakes Development Trust, between 2008 and 2010 in the Eden market towns of Alston, Appleby and Kirkby Stephen. The aim of the programme was to support retailers in facing the challenges of:

Reduced customer numbers
Supermarket competition
Rising operating expenses
Improving their viability and long term sustainability

The programme delivered free advice and support to retailers through a series of workshops and one to one support covering: display and merchandising; finance; marketing and promotion; and customer service training.

A case study case study was written about the programme's activities.