Armagh received a ‘Business Environment’ gong at the ‘Let’s Celebrate Towns’ awards in London earlier this week.
The awards are a nationwide showcase run by Visa, in partnership with the British Retail Consortium, set up to celebrate areas across the UK helping businesses and communities to thrive.
Armagh was selected by Visa as one of eight nationwide winners, and will receive £15,000 for a community initiative, as well as a package of support for local businesses, to help drive economic and business growth.
The city was selected on the strength of its digital support programme and business support hub.
The awards ceremony took place in the House of Lords and Olympian Denies Lewis was on hand to present the award to local representatives.
From a shortlist of 32, Armagh was recognised for its stand-out performance in Business Environment. This has significantly contributed to unlocking the potential of Armagh and supporting the business environment.
Retail NI Chief Executive, Glyn Roberts, commented: “It’s truly fantastic to see our local towns and cities in Northern Ireland winning these awards. All of them contribute so much to our local economy and are very worthy of the national recognition that these awards provide.”
Mandy Lamb, Managing Director UK & Ireland, Visa, commented: “At Visa, we’re committed to uplifting economies so that everyone in the local communities they serve can benefit. We’re thrilled to run this initiative for the second time, showcasing not only what makes our towns unique but also demonstrate how towns can adapt to new challenges and opportunities by learning and adopting these best practice examples across the nation. This initiative places towns at the forefront of our efforts and supports Visa’s aim of nurturing growth and prosperity at a local level.”
Helen Dickinson, CEO, British Retail Consortium, commented: “I am delighted to continue this partnership with Visa to celebrate the diversity of our towns and what makes them great places to live and work. Following its success in 2023, and the valuable insights gained from different towns across the country, it is exciting to hear more examples of how areas are helping to support high streets and communities, so that best practice can be spread more widely across the country.”
