A TOWN partnership working to promote small businesses says it is will continue to operate.

Braintree Town Partnership says it is continuing its work in the area, contrary to reports suggesting otherwise.

It says a small core of business leaders in the town continue to work to make improvements to the town centre and shape its future.

During the pandemic, the partnership was able to support and advise a number of town centre businesses which allowed them to trade throughout the crisis.

After gaining a grant through the Government Kickstart Scheme, two employees supported communication and "light touch" improvements in the town centre.

However, the end of the funding meant the two team members could not maintain their employment.

The town partnership says it is currently investigating how it can raise funds to allow fresh recruitment to provide similar support for businesses previously offered through the Kickstart programme.

Now, the town partnership, with the support of Braintree Council, is starting an application to deliver a Business Improvement District (BID) in the town centre. 

A BID is a business-led and business-funded body formed to improve a defined commercial area.

The benefits of BIDs are wide-ranging and include things like increased footfall and spend, improved staff retention, reduced business costs and more.

Braintree Town Partnership director Kevin Robson said: “The partnership is still very active. Clearly without funds in place it has been challenging.

“Braintree Council have been supportive of our aim to develop a BID and we are discussing with them the further support they can offer to allow us to meet this objective of going to ballot and ultimately delivering a BID with all the benefits it can deliver to our town.”

The next stage will be a feasibility study in the proposed BID area which will be within the heart of the town centre.

It will allow the BTP to understand the priorities the business would want any levy funds raised through a BID to be spent.