What is the purpose of the Retail Excellence Programme?
The Retail Excellence Programme is designed to:
- Upskill high street retailers
- Foster a stronger sense of community
- Encourage innovation and future retail collaborations.
It’s tailored for Norfolk’s diverse towns, with a focus on:
- Thoughtful workshop structure
- Effective use of training hours
- Practical, accessible content for all experience levels
- Skilled delivery team
- Expert guest speakers.
Who can take part in the programme?
- Traditional shop retailers
- Market stall traders
- Farm shops
- Online retailers seeking physical premises
- Estate agents, beauticians, hairdressers (for relevant sessions).
What workshops are included in the summer programme of 2025?
Summer programme – start dates of workshop 1 per town (sign up by Tuesday 1 July):
- Fakenham – 3 July
- North Walsham – 4 July
- Dereham – 10 July
- Diss – 11 July
Workshop 1: Love your town (In Person)
Date: early July 2025 (start dates listed above per town)
Focus: Setting the Scene ‘Understanding your Town’.
Key Aims: Start town networking groups, create community pride, understand local skills and challenges.
Knowledge & Tools: Retail scene, demographics, success stories, SWOT analyses.
Date: early July 2025 (start dates listed above per town)
Focus: Setting the Scene ‘Understanding your Town’.
Key Aims: Start town networking groups, create community pride, understand local skills and challenges.
Knowledge & Tools: Retail scene, demographics, success stories, SWOT analyses.
Workshop 4: Operational Excellence
Date: 31 July 2025 (Online)
Focus: Retail standards, operations, H&S and Procedures
Key Aims: Improve standards, streamline operations and align with customer needs.
Knowledge & Tools: Inventory systems, safety standards and customer insights.
Date: 31 July 2025 (Online)
Focus: Retail standards, operations, H&S and Procedures
Key Aims: Improve standards, streamline operations and align with customer needs.
Knowledge & Tools: Inventory systems, safety standards and customer insights.
Workshop 2: Strategic Planning & Financial Literacy
Date: 17 July 2025 (Online)
Focus: Strategic Planning & Financial Literacy
Key Aims: Clarify market position, build a growth strategy and enhance financial skills.
Knowledge & Tools: Trends, market placement, business plans, Profit and Loss and budgeting.
Date: 17 July 2025 (Online)
Focus: Strategic Planning & Financial Literacy
Key Aims: Clarify market position, build a growth strategy and enhance financial skills.
Knowledge & Tools: Trends, market placement, business plans, Profit and Loss and budgeting.
Workshop 5: Merchandising and Customer Service
Date: 14 August 2025 (Online)
Focus: Merchandising, product ranges, systems and customer experience
Key Aims: Build effective product ranges, visual merchandising and elevate customer experience.
Knowledge & Tools: Retail pricing, bestsellers and margins.
Tools: Breakeven calculator and floor planner.
Date: 14 August 2025 (Online)
Focus: Merchandising, product ranges, systems and customer experience
Key Aims: Build effective product ranges, visual merchandising and elevate customer experience.
Knowledge & Tools: Retail pricing, bestsellers and margins.
Tools: Breakeven calculator and floor planner.
Workshop 3: Marketing for Town Retailers
Date: 24 July 2025 (Online)
Focus: Digital Marketing & Retail Sales Activity
Key Aims: Build a digital campaign plan, understand digital strategy and create a Sales Activity Planner.
Knowledge & Tools: SEO, social media and campaign planning.
Date: 24 July 2025 (Online)
Focus: Digital Marketing & Retail Sales Activity
Key Aims: Build a digital campaign plan, understand digital strategy and create a Sales Activity Planner.
Knowledge & Tools: SEO, social media and campaign planning.
Workshop 6: Moving Forward: Collaboration and community impact. (In Person)
Date: end of August 2025 (Fakenham 21 Aug/ North Walsham 22 Aug/ Dereham 28 Aug/ Diss 29 Aug)
Focus: Community Pride & Next Steps
Key Aims: Celebrate achievements, fund Pride of Place ideas and support for continued growth.
Date: end of August 2025 (Fakenham 21 Aug/ North Walsham 22 Aug/ Dereham 28 Aug/ Diss 29 Aug)
Focus: Community Pride & Next Steps
Key Aims: Celebrate achievements, fund Pride of Place ideas and support for continued growth.
Winter programme 2025
| Winter programme – sign up by Friday 19 Sept 2025 | Start (workshop 1) | Finish (workshop 6) |
| Hunstanton | 25-Sep | 11-Nov |
| Gorleston-on-Sea | 26-Sep | 12-Nov |
| Aylsham | 02-Oct | 13-Nov |
| Attleborough | 03-Oct | 14-Nov |
Dates for workshop 2 to 5 (online)
| Workshop 2 | 16-Oct | 9:30am – 12:30pm |
| Workshop 3 | 23-Oct | 9:30am – 12:30pm |
| Workshop 4 | 30-Oct | 9:30am – 12:30pm |
| Workshop 5 | 06-Nov | 9:30am – 12:30pm |
How do I get more information or sign up?
To sign up or find out more, contact us at: nhsm@norfolk.gov.uk.
You can also directly Sign Up here and tick ‘Retail Excellence‘ under ‘Reason for Enquiry‘.
This is a free and impartial service provided by Norfolk County Council and New Anglia Growth Hub.