We’ve had a very positive response to the Town Centre workshop idea over the summer.  Most people have come back looking for a bit more information on the structure.  So here it is.

The Town Centre Workshop is a day-long workshop primarily designed for Chambers of Commerce and Business Associations with Local Authorities and urban leaders, around the country, to help advance their own town centre partnership (or Town Team) and progress to actions that can be implemented.  

Every town is different, in terms of needs, hallenges, and the dynamic of the group who will deal with those issues.  The workshop is held in the town in order to work with the partners/ stakeholders who have to make it happen.  Its not a seminar or a training day.  The emphasis is on making the most of existing resources, people and assets for short-term wins and permanent gains for the town centre.   In terms of scale we see the most productive numbers being of “class room” size, i.e. 10 to 30 people.  We work with the contact person in the town on who should attend, and arrangements for the day. 

The approach to each subject matter is to have a 10 minute presentation every 30 to 40 minutes, to help provoke discussion or point to examples of best practice in town centre management from UK, Ireland and USA, be it from BIDs (Business Improvement Districts) or other Place Management initiatives  We also want to focus on a positive response to town centre challenges and achievable actions.

After settling in, the single-day workshop (10am to 4pm) comprises 3 main elements: 1) Shake-up, 2) Building Blocks & 3)Next-steps.

Introduction:  An introduction to the context for the workshop, the concept and development of Town Teams, Place Management and the overall goals that working together as a town-centre partnership may achieve.

The Shake-up:   If we are to conclude the day with Actions, we first have to look at the town’s strengths, the needs and services the population require, and gaps/opportunities to fill.  This phase of the day is about airing the groups’ thinking on Place, Attractions and Perceptions.  What is the 'experience’?   How do we experience the place as a visitor, business person or regular shopper.   We’ll use a slide-show to pose questions on urban experience and quality. What do we honestly think of the town centre, why would we want to be there or not. We brainstorm on what we know (information), what’s good, what and who is missing, and how we can fill the gaps.    We’ll use mind-maps to help visualise and consolidate our inputs.

‘Building Blocks’ focuses on Partnership, what it means, and ways of working together. I give a short presentation on approaches to Town Centre Management (everything from public sector to private sector). We envisage what a  Town Centre Partnership/Company or BID would look like, where it could be located, full-time or part-time and what are the things it would do.  There are likely to be several organisations in the town already working with various goals, objectives and budgets, but all contributing to the town.  Organisations change and develop.  So we think about where we are and where the organisation might go.

‘Next-Steps’ brings together 10 actions from all actors, in manageable concepts, stages and projects.  What are the steps that need to happen, now and in the next 3 years?  We can help this discussion with examples of Core functions, and best practice.  With over 1,000 BIDs in America and 136 in the UK there are plenty of ideas out there.  We don’t want to swamp people with unachievable goals, but at the same time, success stories and good ideas can encourage people on to the next stage.

Also see our Prezi presentation on the Workshop at http://prezi.com/30yt0fgcoh9r/town-centre-workshop/

Urb is the only consultancy in Ireland with expertise in urban planning and place management /town centre partnerships and BIDs. Richard Hamilton is an Associate Member of the Institute of Place Management in Manchester. Urb’s aim is to help communities achieve the vibrant and vital town centres everyone wants. This requires a partnership approach, for which towns need assistance to start-up and evolve.  The new  Retail Planning Guidelines highlight the implementation of city and town centre management strategies as an integral part of the National Policy Objectives.

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