Jobs and growth in every postcode for Norfolk and Suffolk
- No Comments
In Westminster, we put the spotlight on Norfolk and Suffolk, highlighting our successful service, and calling for job creation support…
Read More Lesley van Dijk30 Oct
Team High Streets Matter is passionate about keeping our high streets vibrant places to visit, shop and enjoy leisure activities. Norfolk County Council created the High Streets Matter initiative and the team is delivering this project through the Retail Excellence and Hospitality Matters Programmes, Love Your Market Place grant funding, town visits and expert support in Norfolk and Suffolk. Visitors and customers want to spend time together, buy their daily or weekly goods, explore our beautiful towns and access services. We are looking to help create experiences while serving those needs.
Let us introduce you to the team!
Ian is the Market Town Manager at Norfolk County Council, where he leads the strategic coordination and delivery of business support programmes for 24 market towns.
Ian Gregory
Market Town Manager
Alexandra has built a career as a passionate leader of retail operations and strategy.
Alexandra Hemen
High Growth Adviser
Lisa joined the Growth Hub nearly two years ago and has seen first-hand how successful the programme was last year. She's looking forward to the new team building on that success and to working with small businesses. She has a breadth of experience, including as a Registrar in a school and working for a tourism PR agency in Munich, at Frost & Sullivan and at the U.S. Commercial Service at the U.S. Embassy in London.
Lisa Cogan
Project Officer
Ashley is the Project Manager for the High Streets Matter programme, she leads the coordination and delivery of a support programme for retail and hospitality businesses in our market towns.
Ashley Cooper
Project Manager
Kate is an experienced retail and business leader with expertise in buying, marketing, brand development and retail operations for national and international businesses. She is passionate about people, delivering great customer experiences and helping teams make a real difference.
Kate Morgan
Business Adviser
With a background in hospitality, banking and business support, Matt has spent nearly 20 years helping businesses grow and succeed. His career started in hospitality, managing restaurants and pubs before going into banking supporting small businesses. His commercial, customer service and operational expertise will help hospitality businesses improve performance, overcome challenges and achieve sustainable growth.
Matthew Maddocks
Business Adviser
Latest news & events
22 Oct
Meet our team + take action + boost business in Leiston
- No Comments
Leiston businesses are invited to the event on 13 November where we offer advice to help your business.
Read More Lesley van Dijk16 Oct
New High Streets Matter news update
- No Comments
As the autumn workshops of the High Streets Matter Programme draw to a close, we would like to highlight our…
Read More Lesley van DijkPress Coverage
High Streets Matter initiative, backed by Norfolk County Council, has featured in local and regional press since launching in May 2025. Suffolk's Programme launched in July 2026.
- Norfolk businesses invited to attend free support programme – Featured in Eastern Daily Press, Wymondham & Attleborough Mercury, Norwich Evening News and North Norfolk News, 23 September 2026. Read article.
- Norfolk and Suffolk market towns encouraged to apply for grant – Eastern Daily Express, 29 July 2026. Read article.
- Grants Available For Norfolk Market Towns – Broadland Radio, 24 July 2026. Read article.
- £250k Hospitality Matters campaign to support Norfolk firms – Fakenham & Wells Times, Eastern Daily Press, North Norfolk News and Norwich Evening News, March 2026. Read article.
- Hospitality Matters launch – BBC Radio Norfolk, 27 February 2026. Interview with High Growth Adviser Alexandra Hemen who talks with Presenter Chris Goreham about the new hospitality support and £250,000 investment. “Hospitality Matters. It preserves a way of life and is important as part of our culture. Our family and friends work in these industries.” (listen at 1:02 and 1:08+). The support which will start from May/June 2026 covers an extensive programme, including training, grants and one‑to‑one advice. Business owner Joseph Ballard from New Stages and The Black Swan shares his experience of the retail programme and how the training, business support and connecting with others (listen at 2:05) made a difference. Listen here until 28 March 2026.
- Free retail training rolled out for Norfolk businesses – North Norfolk News, Eastern Daily Press and Great Yarmouth Mercury, September 2025. Read article.
- Free retail training for Norfolk businesses – Town & Around, September 2025. Read article.
- Why Norfolk high streets are so important to our communities, opinion piece by Cllr Fabian Eagle – Eastern Daily Press, 2 September 2025. Read article.
- Fakenham retailers set to benefit from new council scheme – Fakenham & Wells Times, 1 July 2025. Read article
- Lydia’s floral tribute to market town – Folk Features, 3 June 2025. Read article
- Support for businesses in Norfolk’s declining high streets (High Streets Matter launch) – Covered in regional and local newspapers, 14 May 2025. Read article
- High Streets Matter launch – BBC Norfolk Radio, 8 May 2025. Interviews with Cllr Fabian Eagle and Lucy Peacock from Mabel Bakery who talk about the new initiative at the launch.
‘Completed Love Your High Street training which has been extremely valuable, thank you for such a comprehensive course.’
Little Movers5 stars (Retail Excellence Programme)‘We attended the Retail Excellence Programme and it has been the most valuable and insightful course I’ve ever done. Alex and all of the speakers were incredibly knowledgeable, and generous with their time and advice. We’ve already received more online shop sales since we’ve started to implement what we’ve learnt. We massively recommend it to all businesses in Norfolk!’
The Wayward Adventurers Guild5 stars (Retail Excellence Programme)