Support for vital hospitality sector launched at Norfolk Market Towns Conference
- No Comments
Pubs, restaurants, hotels and other businesses in the county’s hospitality industry are to be offered bespoke training and other support through a new £250,000 campaign launched at the Norfolk Market Towns Conference.
A practical, people-centred support programme for independent retailers operating in the sector is being introduced by Norfolk County Council following the success of its High Streets Matter initiative, which has won praise from central government. The scheme is part of a £1m package of support and funding confirmed by the council to support high streets.
More than 120 retailers and organisations from market towns gathered at Thursford near Fakenham on Thursday 19 February to discuss the future of high streets, and to share and develop ideas.
Hospitality businesses are invited to take part in a training course and could be eligible for a business improvement grant of up to £1,000. Workshops will be delivered in-person and online and will cover everything from marketing and booking to menu engineering and seasonal staffing. The courses run from May to June for the first cohort and September to October for the second.
A creative session in selected towns will explore local identity, civic pride and shared challenges, helping businesses understand their individual needs and skills, find quick practical solutions, reconnect with their place, and collaborate on bold, town‑wide ideas.
A follow up High Growth Programme will be offered to 24 businesses to accelerate success and help grow the next retail and hospitality superstars, with a further business growth grant of up to £2,500. Love Your Market Town grants are available to businesses in all sectors to support unique projects to celebrate Pride of Place, engage communities, increase footfall and raise awareness of our high streets.
Retail Excellence courses are also available for high street businesses outside the hospitality sector as part of the package of support being delivered by the council.
Cllr Fabian Eagle, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth at Norfolk County Council said: “Hospitality Matters sits within our wider Norfolk High Streets Matter programme — a programme that over the past year has moved decisively from ambition into delivery.
Across the county, we are seeing projects that are grounded in local identity, shaped by partnerships and focused on long-term resilience rather than quick fixes.
“These are initiatives that genuinely encourage footfall, improve the experience of visiting town centres, and strengthen the confidence of people who live, work and invest in them.”
Retailers and organisations packed into Thursford for the event sponsored by Lovell. Chris Wade, Director of People & Places Partnership, gave a local and national perspective about the future of market towns in his keynote address, while Nathan Lomax, Co-founder of Quickfire Digital, addressed delegates about winning on the high street in 2026.
Facilitator Mike Rigby from the Eastern Promise podcast led panel discussions that focused on celebrating our market towns and collaboration.
Read more about Norfolk’s High Streets Matter and/ or email nhsm@norfolk.gov.uk
Lesley van Dijk