• BID and council set up mock-up shop to entice people to open the shop of their dreams
• Council offers 50% off business rates for new start-ups and expanding small businesses along with business support

People are looking twice at a new shop in Sutton High Street after Sutton Council and the Business Improvement District set up a mock-up shop.

The mock-up florist, called Blooming Marvellous, is to show people how easy it is to set up the shop of their dreams.

Sutton Council is offering entrepreneurs support including 50 per cent off business rates and help to create business plans. The dressing for the fake shop has been paid for by the Business Improvement District called Successful Sutton.

On Tuesday, staff from the council’s inward investment arm Opportunity Sutton, the Business Improvement District Successful Sutton and Sutton councillors spoke to people about the support they would receive to open their own shop. Traders were also on hand to talk about their experiences and offer tips to setting up the shop.

The council and Successful Sutton hope the shop will help reduce the vacancy rate in Sutton Town Centre which currently has around 30 shop units free out of 547 shops in the BID. Across the borough, Sutton’s business support has helped to reduce vacancy rates from 517 in 2010 to 426 in 2014.

Cllr Jayne McCoy, Chair of the Housing, Economy and Business Committee, said:

“Our High Street is the heartbeat of our economy and we wanted to do something imaginative to support people thinking about becoming an independent trader.

“For many people setting up a shop is a pipe dream, but here in Sutton we are doing what we can to make it easy for people to take that first step.

“Our business support arm Opportunity Sutton is offering a 50 per cent discount on business rates and there are clinics and workshops to give business advice and help people create their business plans.

“By encouraging new businesses to open we can create a vibrant shopping destination and create jobs. Simply put, Sutton is open for business.”

Ross Feeney, Chief Executive of the Business Improvement District called Successful Sutton, said:

“Successful Sutton fully supports the 50% business rates incentive, which we hope will encourage new and expanding businesses to choose Sutton.

Business confidence is increasing, and with £400m of private sector investment already earmarked for the town centre over the next five years Sutton is a great location to open a business.

We look forward to welcoming new businesses to our high street as a result of this new initiative”.

The offer of 50% off Local Business Rates for one year is also open to people hoping to open their first office, showroom, workshop, gallery or business in the designated Business Improvement District and to expanding small businesses who relocate to the area and take on additional staff.

The deal is for empty premises with a rateable value of between £6,000 and £50,000. Applications must be received by 31 March 2015, along with a robust business plan.

The council’s Business Support Programme, Enterprising Sutton, in partnership with the Sutton Chamber of Commerce will provide extensive support in the form of workshops, clinics, advice on writing the  business plan and more to help your budding business grow.

Applying is simple and applicants will know if they have been successful within 10 working days.

The launch comes just weeks after the council gave planning permission for an overhaul of Times Square shopping centre that will attract major UK retail names.