Local staff employed by some of the biggest name high street businesses in Blackburn will be given time to get away from the shop floor to enjoy a guided walk of the town centre on Wednesday 9th September.
Bosses at Santander, EE, Greggs, Marks & Spencer and Boots have organised the activity being dubbed ‘walk the walk’ to launch the Business in the Community Healthy High Streets Initiative. The aim is to update employees on the exciting changes in the town so that they can ‘talk the talk’, sharing their new knowledge about the changing face of Blackburn and the significant investment with customers, friends and families.
BITC Healthy High Streets Champion, Katherine Wheatley from Santander explained, ‘We are working closely with the Blackburn BID and the Regeneration team to take an active role in helping the high street prosper and we wanted our staff to have the opportunity to get away from the shop floor, look around and learn about the amazing transformation going on under their noses.’
The walk will be led by Julia Simpson from Blackburn with Dawen’s regeneration team with Harriet Roberts, Blackburn BID Manager. Setting off from the Visitor Centre, the guides will talk about the progress of the new bus station work on Ainsworth Street, the Cathedral Quarter work due to be completed soon, Darwen Street, Fleming Square and King William Street.
BID Manager, Harriet Roberts said, ‘We are delighted that Blackburn has been selected as a Healthy High Streets town. ‘Walk the Walk’ tours are a simple but great idea to help people who work in the town to ‘big up’ some of the great things that are happening in terms of redevelopment and events. We’ll be providing the participants with information about the forthcoming heritage festival, using the town centre festival map to explain what is happening where and when!’
If successful, there will be more guided walks scheduled for other business staff, visitors and residents who want to understand what’s going on and ask questions.
