Armagh City is being put forward for this year’s ‘Great British High Street Awards’.
The UK-wide competition celebrates “local achievements on our high streets and supporting the communities in which we live and work”.
And Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council has decided to enter in two categories.
The council is putting Armagh City’s efforts to promote the night-time economy forward for this year’s ‘Rising Star’ award.
It recognises the UK’s most ambitious high streets in taking the lead in partnership working and, to that end, the council believes that it is in with a good chance.
Armagh City’s ‘Evening Economy’ initiative has been submitted under this category focusing on marketing and promotion; partnership with the business community; improving the appearance of the city centre at night and safety.
Meanwhile, the council has also sets its sight on the Champion Award category, which recognises the overall best high street based on four ‘pillars of success’, these being community, customer experience, environment and digital transformation.
The application to this category focuses on Portadown Town Centre, and in particular the work that has been delivered in digital retail training, improved public realm and customer service.
The shortlisted high streets will be revealed before the end of September.
After that a public voting system will open to determine winners.
A prize pot of up to £10,000 is available to the winner in each category for their local community.
Shortlisted finalists will be invited to the awards ceremony in London in November 2018 to celebrate the high streets that are “succeeding and influencing change”.
The awards were founded in 2014, although they were not held last year.
Armagh City will be hoping to top the Rising Star category which was last won by Stockton in 2016.
