WELCOME TO THE BRIDGE

Launching next generation high street entrepreneurs in partnership with The Victoria Centre, Southend-on-Sea City Council and SaveTheHighStreet.org

CALLING ALL RETAILERS, RESTAURANTS, SALONS, SERVICES AND OTHER HIGH STREET BUSINESSES, FROM STARTUPS TO SCALEUPS!

Win rent free space and market-leading support to launch your brand at The Victoria Centre in Southend-on-Sea

WHAT YOU GET

< SPACE >

A prime shop unit in the heart of Southend-on-Sea, entirely rent free for 6 months

< SUPPORT >

End-to-end support from leading experts to help you achieve your potential

< SCOPE >

6 businesses will win the full prize with other support for everyone else

YOUR FIRST OR YOUR NEXT HOME

ACHIEVE YOUR POTENTIAL

Winners of the competition will secure end-to-end support from SaveTheHighStreet.org for 6 months, making it quicker, cheaper and easier to succeed through your launch and beyond

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.

OUR GROWING SUPPORTERS

SPREAD THE WORD

Do you know anyone who should be aware of this opportunity?

Do you want to see empty shops filled by exciting new businesses brands?

Successful high streets benefit everyone and together we are stronger!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

< STEP 1 >

Click on any of the apply buttons to register your interest

< STEP 2 >

We’ll send you a full application pack

< STEP 3 >

Win the main prize or get access to other support

GETTING STARTED IS SIMPLE

Is it really six month completely rent free?

It certainly is. No rent, no service charges and no business rates to pay for the whole 6 months.

What will the businesses have to pay if they stay on after the 6 months?

If you choose to stay after the initial 6 month period, there will be a service charge and rent payments linked to the performance of your business, so you only pay what you can afford.

What happens after I have registered my interest?

You will be sent an application form to complete. Shortlisted businesses will then be invited to interview and share further information before 6 initial winners are selected.

What business support can I expect?

Each winner will get 5 months free on JoinJo.com – the end-to-end support system developed by SaveTheHighStreet.org to help local independents achieve their potential.

Who are SaveTheHighStreet.org?

SaveTheHighStreet.org is an industry-wide movement delivering projects like The Bridge to reimagine empty space, empower community champions and help high street entrepreneurs succeed, from startups to scaleups in the UK.

What is your criteria for selecting winners?

We’re looking for businesses that have the best chance (with the right support) of succeeding on the high street while being a great addition to the Victoria Centre and Southend-on-Sea.

When are the winners expected to be in their units?

Our goal is to have completed the selection and kicked-off preparations to launch each winner by the end of October, so doors can be open to the public by mid November in time for the festive shopping period.

How did this project come about? Where did the funding come from?

Southend-on-Sea Council secured funding from SELEP and partnered with SaveTheHighStreet.org, Kiwi Productions, Beyond Co. and other partners to turn the idea for The Bridge into a realit