The innovative grants scheme in Rotherham is continuing to help attract new, specialist independent retailers into the town centre. Lisa Middlemiss has just opened her second town centre bridal boutique, Purely Bridal, in the former Sheffield Star office building on Corporation Street.

Lisa already runs Bridal Affairs on Wellgate and wanted to open a second unit to expand her range. She has successfully gained a business grant from Rotherham Borough Council to help her achieve her ambition.

“Expanding to two shops has been something we’ve talked about for a long time and hoped to do in the future but the grant gave me the incentive to do it now,” she said.

“The grant has been a huge helping hand and has helped with the cost of rent and fittings and fixtures for the shop floor. Business has been great and I’m really pleased with how things are going.”

The initiative is part of a major drive to improve the range of shops and reduce the number of vacant units.
The key focus is to appeal to new businesses, although it is also open to existing independents that are looking to expand into an additional shop.

The scheme provides contributions to rent over a two-year period, with up to 50 per cent off the rental in year one and 25 per cent in year two, as well as support towards shopfitting costs. Lisa is also offering a 10 per cent discount on bridal gowns via Click-Backs – the online shopping discount scheme – and said the response to the vouchers had been “exceptional”.

To get your vouchers just log onto www. rotherhamtowncentre.co.uk and visit the dedicated Click-Backs voucher section. Choose the voucher you want, print it out and take to town with you on your next shopping trip.

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