Oldham Council awards first grant from £1 million investment fund

Oldham Council has awarded the first-ever grant from its £1 million investment fund designed to attract traders to the town centre’s new Independent Quarter.

Scoots, Suits and Boots, a trader which has just taken a lease on Yorkshire Street, has been given a Building Improvement Grant worth almost £6,000 to help spruce up its new premises.

The firm, now based at Yorkshire Street, is run by Royton couple Jo and Mick Harwood who have been selling retro and Mod clothing online for the last four years – including brands like Dr Martens, Ben Sherman and Gabicci Vintage.

This grant will help to install a new shop entrance, internal wall, signage, flooring, redecoration, heating and a counter and the council has awarded 75% of the cost of the works.

The company are amongst a growing band of traders relocating to Oldham after the local authority unveiled the new £1m package – including business improvement grants, property management support and training – to attract existing and new specialist traders.

Councillor Shoab Akhtar, cabinet member for business and town centres, said: “We’re delighted that Scoots, Suits and Boots are the first business to benefit from our new £1 million fund.”

“This is part of our wider plans to give Oldham town centre a different kind of offer for residents and visitors and, as part of that, it’s also important that we help to improve the shop facilities and the local environment as new businesses move in.

“Scoots, Suits and Boots are a great example of the kind of people we want to attract and we look forward to helping many more independent traders set up in Oldham over the coming months.”

Jo Harwood said: “The grant is fantastic news for Scoots, Suits and Boots, as it means we’ve now been able to appoint builders to get on with the work, which will hopefully be completed around Easter time.

“The support we’ve had from Oldham Council has been fantastic.

“Throughout, they’ve made the process as easy and straightforward as possible. In fact, the town centre team have gone out of their way to help make our business a success.”

Oldham Council is today also launching a new promotional brochure designed to help spread the word about the ‘Independent Quarter’* and explain what is on offer to traders.

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