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Retail Rocks winners set to open new stores in Torry town centre

The winners of the innovative Retail Rocks competition to launch new high street retailers in Torry will be announced on Thursday 09 June.

The retail-led scheme, funded by the Scottish Government and Aberdeen City Council, was launched last year to put fresh heart into Torry town centre by giving people the chance to open up a new business in one of six empty shop units.

Retail Rocks attracted bids from 32 hopefuls who were keen to pitch their business ideas to breathe new life into one of the units on Victoria Road and Menzies Road in the heart of Torry. Their plans ranged from cafes and cake shops to baby clothes and refurbished furniture stores.

The budding entrepreneurs were whittled down earlier this year to a shortlist of 12, who then presented their business plans to a selection panel of local and national business men and women and a representative from the Torry community.

The six winners have now been selected, each of whom will now have the opportunity to turn their business idea into reality – in a fitted-out shop unit, rent-free for a year and with support from business experts to help them prosper.

Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment Alex Neil said: “This is great news for Torry and a fantastic start for six new businesses, which will bring jobs and prosperity to the town.

“Over 90 towns, right across Scotland, have benefited from the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Regeneration Fund and projects in Aberdeen received almost £1.3 million. This has transformed the fortunes of many town centres, giving a boost to the local economies, jobs, businesses and the people who live there.”

Aberdeen City Council Enterprise Planning and Infrastructure convener Councillor Kate Dean said: "Torry town centre is already home to many successful businesses – and the addition of six new retailers can only help it thrive even more. This is great for the new entrepreneurs who have battled through to this stage and it’s a real boost for the existing business community in Torry, who will benefit from the lift these new ventures will bring to the area.

“The Retail Rocks winners must be congratulated for putting so much heart and effort into their projects and I wish them every success as they start this new stage in their journey to create thriving new businesses.”

Torry Community Council secretary Dawn Bellamy said: “This is a really exciting and innovative scheme, which was sorely needed in Torry. The community council wants to see the businesses succeed and become part of the local community, leading the way for Torry to become a destination that people will consistently travel to and experience all it has to offer.”

Aberdeen City Council Economic and Business Development Project Director Gerry Brough said: “Retail Rocks is a great example of a local economic development initiative. Led by the City Council and with support from many other sectors, the project creates sustainable local regeneration by bringing empty shops back into use and at the same time providing new entrepreneurs with real opportunities to create new businesses in Aberdeen.

“The project has also helped renovate two old tenements in Menzies Road , brought about an improvement in street lighting in Torry town centre, introduced new CCTV cameras and street signs, and created extra free parking spaces to make Torry a more attractive place to visit and shop."

Retail Rocks has been funded by the Scottish Government with £573,000 from its Town Centre Regeneration Fund, with £584,000 of support from Aberdeen City Council, and further in-kind and sponsorship backing from external sources.

The winners will be mentored for their first 18 months by retail experts co-ordinated by Scottish Business in the Community. Private firm Retail Rocks Limited, which developed the initial concept, has offered to provide retail expertise and business networking for the new shopkeepers, who are due to open for business in later this summer.

Jane Wood, founder of Retail Rocks Ltd and Chief Executive of Scottish Business in the Community, said: “As one of the judges who selected the winners, I have been hugely impressed with the drive and commitment the applicants have shown. All the winners presented a compelling business plan that should ensure they will flourish in the future. Through the mentoring advice and support provided by Scottish Business in the Community, which is one of HRH Prince Charles’s charities, the winners have ready sources of extensive retail experience to guide them through the start-up period.

“I believe Aberdeen City Council and the Scottish Government have been far-sighted in embracing Retail Rocks and supporting regeneration through small businesses. Retail Rocks is in discussion with other local authorities in Scotland that have been encouraged by what has taken place in Torry. We will be working to build on the success of the project and Aberdeen will be seen as an example of how entrepreneurial drive can benefit the community.”

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