In days gone by British enterprise could be defined as a nation of independent retailers. The high street was dominated by a collection of autonomous brands and unique independently owned outlets.
However, a recent report which showed the sharp increase in shop vacancies across the north hinted at the extreme pressure the retail sector is under.
The Property and Business Forum revealed that high streets in the North currently have a shop vacancy rate of over twenty per cent, while southern based companies still come in under the national average with a vacancy rate over just under ten per cent.
Sarah Haines, spokesperson for the PBF, comments; “While the low vacancy rate down south in positive, the figures from the north are extremely concerning, Enterprise need to be supported at a local level if the economy is ever going to recover on a broader one.”