Funding for 21 projects, which will trial innovative ways of addressing the issues facing UK high streets has been announced today by Minister for Universities and Skills, David Willetts. The projects, winners of a £2m competition for funding run by the UK’s innovation agency, the Technology Strategy Board, will explore the feasibility of new, technology-driven ways of reinvigorating UK high streets, addressing the specific issues in relation to retailing, services, logistics, travel and traffic. The Technology Strategy Board will invest up to £6m in a further, second phase of the competition, which successful projects from this first phase can apply for. The value of individual contracts in that second phase of the funding will be up to a maximum of £1.2m and companies will have 24 months to deliver their implementation trials.

Projects funded include:

The Bristol Pound
A project which will trial the concept of the Town Pound - a national network of local e-currencies. The project’s ultimate intention is to create a network of locally branded currencies on each High street and promises a range of additional benefits to retailers and shoppers, including one-stop online shops for each high street; a click and collect service, helping to increase high street footfall and collective loyalty schemes.

‘Beyond Clicks and Bricks’
A partnership of Kent County Council, Microsoft and other partners, will trial  augmented reality technology – allowing shoppers to point their smart phones at shop fronts and view tailored offers and next generation retail ‘Spot Market’ technologies, allowing shoppers to take advantage of targeted offers.

StONE
A project which provides free High street Wi-Fi, providing users with details of high street stores and offers,  specific to the shopper’s position on the high street,, allowing retailers to push targeted offers to providing an impetus to High street retailers to get online. The project will also boost the local economy by providing a support service for local retailers, drawing upon local computing and engineering students, helping them to develop their online presence and analyse local shopping trends.

The Kirkgate Market - The First Omni Channel Market– Leeds
A project which aims to attract additional shoppers to Leeds Kirkgate market by developing an online presence for the market, incorporating a ‘Click and Collect’ service.
The aim is to ensure that the market can match the convenience of larger high street and out of town retailers, through a 3D digital platform, which maps the indoor market and shoppers can navigate from home.  The project will also provide open data for analysis, potentially informing similar approaches elsewhere. Minister for Universities and Skills, David Willetts said:

“High streets have been at the heart of local communities for centuries, but many have declined in popularity in recent times with the introduction of online shopping. “These innovative winning projects will help inform the work of the newly formed industry-led Digital High Streets Advisory Board which is developing a strategy on how best to use technology to revitalise high streets by making them more attractive, sustainable and locally relevant. “I look forward to hearing the outcome of these trials and the work of the Board later in the year.” High Streets Minister, Brandon Lewis said,

“The internet has revolutionised the way we shop, increasing choice and competition to the benefit of customers. Town centres need to adapt to survive – such as adopting “click and collect” services and one of today’s winners could become the next big thing to reinvigorate our high street. Ideas like apps with high street only offers or market produce “click and collect” services will give people more reason to go into town. This competition is just one way Government is standing up for high streets. We have also cut business rates for local shops, made sensible changes to planning rules and begun tackling unfair parking practices which drive shoppers out of town.” CEO of the Technology Strategy Board, Iain Gray said,

“This is a particularly exciting initiative, which provides companies with an opportunity to test the feasibility and commercial potential of their technology-focussed ideas for attracting shoppers and retailers to UK high streets. “Our ultimate aim is for our financial support to help companies to develop solutions that increase footfall in high street shopping locations and are applicable in numerous global markets.” The feasibility studies run for six months, from June – November 2014, inclusive.  At the end of the six-month projects, the Technology Strategy Board will bring participants together to share the lessons of their projects and will commission a report on the key findings.