WORDS FROM OUR PARTNERS

As the Centre Manager of The Victoria Centre, we are delighted to host The Bridge and can see the potential it has to bring new energy to the centre and the local community. This initiative is very exciting, bringing in projects that will support and mentor local businesses. Having seen the difficulties businesses can face, I know how important it is to have this kind of support and collaboration. The Bridge is a great opportunity for Southend-on-Sea, and I’m pleased to be part of something that will make a real difference to our city.

The Bridge project perfectly illustrates why the Council purchased the Centre – to re-invigorate the City Centre. We are very excited by the project which will attract new and existing customers to The Bridge, The Victoria Centre and the High Street, whilst providing opportunities for entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and thrive locally.

It’s time to turn vacant shops into incubators that attract, launch, and sustain the most promising independent high street entrepreneurs. We’re proud to be partnering with so many amazing local businesses, community champions and others across Southend-on-Sea to make The Bridge a reality. Successful high streets benefit everyone and the more of us who join the stronger we all become.

This is a fantastic initiative to work with entrepreneurs, or start-ups, and give them a helping hand. We really want to encourage people with new ideas and new businesses to take that risk and go out there and try and make it work.

As someone who has been involved in running events and PR in Southend for the last decade, I’m incredibly excited to see a scheme like The Bridge at The Victoria Centre. This initiative is all about leading the next generation and fostering innovation within our community. It's refreshing to see a project that not only focuses on business growth but also emphasises the importance of collaboration and mentorship. I'm proud to be a part of this initiative and look forward to contributing to its success. It's projects like these that make me optimistic about the future of Southend.

The Bridge is such an exciting idea, especially for local businesses like ours. It's all about supporting each other and sometimes, all you need is a little leg up to make a big difference. This initiative provides that crucial support, creating opportunities for networking, collaboration, and growth. By bringing together a diverse range of businesses, The Bridge helps create a community spirit that is essential for the local economy. We're thrilled to be part of this community-driven project and can't wait to see how it helps businesses grow and thrive in Southend. It’s inspiring to see such a forward-thinking approach to local development, and we’re proud to support it.