Sheffield Re:New scheme sees launch of first business

The first of Sheffield’s new ‘pop-up’ shops is to open in the city centre next week.

The Re:New scheme is based on an Australian model to help budding entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground. After launching in summer, the scheme attracted interest from potential new businesses.

Rachel Salway will be launching her new Roseannah shop in a balcony unit at Orchard Square, just off Fargate on Saturday (7 November).

Roseannah, which is a trader in the fashion industry, has formed partnerships with organisations that empower workers worldwide.

Rachel said: “I am very excited about the launch of my new shop in the city centre, and I am grateful for all the support I have received to date. The Renew project has given me the opportunity to showcase my products to a wider audience, and strengthen my brand locally.

“We are a social impact company that empowers workers worldwide, through fairtrade and ethical fashion accessories. We have recently launched a brand new collection of jewellery that supports survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation here in the UK, giving them the skills to leave the past behind and move independently into a new life.

“This is something that I feel strongly about, and I know many people feel the same way and will want to support what I am doing. I have seen such a significant transformation in the lives of the women I work with, that have been effected by this horrendous crime. For me that is what it is all about, seeing them flourish and their hope for the future restored.”

Sheffield City Council and the University of Sheffield have been working on small-scale uses of buildings, but the aim now is to take this concept to the next level.

Councillor Leigh Bramall, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Business, Skills and Development added: “We have recognised the importance of supporting meanwhile uses for several years now, but we wanted to take this concept to the next level with a more organised scheme developed with city partners.

“Re:New is the result, giving new, independent businesses the opportunity to test their ideas, whilst at the same time enlivening the city’s streets by adding variety, colour and new life to our city centre.

“I wish Rachel every success in her new shop – she has identified a market sector that I am sure many people will support and should benefit from shoppers looking for gifts in the lead up to Christmas.”

ReNew is based on the successful Renew Newcastle, Australia initiative led by Marcus Westbury, the writer, broadcaster, festival director and media maker. During a series of events last year, Marcus was invited to Sheffield by the University of Sheffield to share his knowledge on the initiative.

Professor Vanessa Toulmin, from the University of Sheffield who is Chair of Re:New and Director of City Cultural Engagement, commented: “When Marcus visited Sheffield last year he was able to give us a detailed insight into how his home city of Newcastle in Australia, which is known as the city of steel, had been transformed by bringing together landlords of empty buildings with creative professionals wanting to get their businesses off the ground.

“We were confident the concept could work just as well in Sheffield and I’m delighted that we have been able to work with partners in the city to make Re:New happen.

“Saturday’s opening will hopefully be the start of many more pop up shops in the city breathing life back into old buildings and making Sheffield an even more attractive place to live, work and visit.”

Several other small businesses are negotiating leases and final details to open pop-up shops in the city centre in the coming months. Many more vacant or underused buildings in the city centre will become active, providing much needed footfall, spend and more varied activities to areas in transition, such as the Sheffield Retail Quarter site and Castlegate.

The aim is to allow new concepts to be tested on a temporary basis, which will lead to those businesses becoming established for permanent use elsewhere in the city centre.

Knowledge and guidance will be provided by a mentoring group involving partners from across the city, including the Council; University of Sheffield; City Centre BID; Culture Consortium; local landowners, developers and agents; established workspace providers; and independent retailers.

The Re:New project is being funded by the Council’s ‘Keep Sheffield Working Fund’, University of Sheffield and European Regional Development Fund through the North Sea Region, and Interreg IVB.

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