Company is "thriving"

Newtown based regeneration company and membership organisation Revive & Thrive is celebrating its latest successes in supporting town centre regeneration around the UK.

The company, which works with town centre business groups known as BIDs (Business Improvement Districts) around the country, has recently completed a project for a new BID in Acton, London, working with Ealing Borough Council and businesses in the town centre there.

This, combined with new projects getting underway with BIDs as far afield as Slough (Berkshire), Chippenham (Wiltshire) and Ferndown (Dorset), demonstrates the local company’s growing national reputation.

Revive & Thrive’s Founder and MD, Mark Barnes, who is a resident of Newtown, said: “When I started Revive & Thrive five years ago, I had a clear vision for wanting to help people improve the places where they live and work.

“BIDs are a vital way of doing that in the current economic climate and we are proud of the role that we are playing in growing the number of BIDs around the country.”

Mark’s colleague and fellow director, Matthew Powell added: “Whilst the work we do with BIDs is fundamental to Revive & Thrive’s business model, we are passionate about working with all types of communities. That is why we produce our free, monthly magazine, Place, and hold networking meetings around the country – so that everyone can benefit from ideas to improve their towns, cities and villages.”

These recent successes for Revive & Thrive, building on previous successful BID campaigns in places such as Hastings (East Sussex) and Hexham (Northumberland), have allowed the company to grow its workforce with the recent recruitment of Claire Holmes (pictured), also a Powys resident, as Marketing and Events Manager.

Claire joined Revive & Thrive following a nationwide recruitment campaign. She said: “it’s a fascinating challenge coming into Revive & Thrive at a time when the business is expanding its footprint across the UK.

“I’ve already learnt that pretty much everyone, everywhere cares deeply about the towns they live in and it is very rewarding being in a job where I can help them.”

Revive & Thrive also runs national campaigns and challenges for communities and has recently launched its Market Towns Challenge.  Since its inception, Revive & Thrive has awarded around £300,000-worth of goods and services to towns and cities.

With funding currently available from the Welsh Government for further BID developments across Wales, Revive & Thrive is confident of being able to support communities closer to home by bringing its national expertise to towns in Powys and neighbouring counties.