The Shop Front Improvement Scheme launched in East Ayrshire in 2022 with the objective of supporting businesses to improve their shop fronts, in turn helping to improve the shopping streets in our towns and villages.
The Scheme has been a community led initiative, with anchor community groups and business associations taking on responsibility of delivering the funding. This involvement empowered the anchor groups to direct funding to the places that needed it most.
AJ Cosmetics video
Watch a video interview with Amy from AJ Cosmetics Beauty Salon in Kilmarnock where she talks about how the Shop Front Improvement Scheme has helped her business attract more clients.
The process
The groups were responsible for deciding on the:
- capped amount of funding per applicant
- boundary of the area that they wanted to see improvements in
- scoring and evaluation of applications
Our Community Led Regeneration team supported the anchor groups throughout the entire process.
In year one £127,000 of funding was available. This comprised of £107,000 from Place Based Investment Programme and £20,000 of the Scotland Loves Local Fund.
Funding awarded in year one
| Amount | Location | Anchor group |
|---|
| £45,000 |
Kilmarnock |
Celebrate Kilmarnock |
| £30,000 |
Cumnock |
Cumnock Business Association |
| £22,000 |
Stewarton |
Stewarton Initiatives |
| £10,000 |
Darvel |
Darvel Area Regeneration Team |
| £10,000 |
Newmilns |
Newmilns Regeneration Area |
| £10,000 |
Crosshouse |
Crosshouse Action Now |
In year two the funding came from Place Based Investment Programme and is currently being distributed in five communities.
Funding awarded in year two
| Amount | Location | Anchor group |
|---|
| £60,000 |
Kilmarnock |
Kilmarnock Business Association |
| £15,000 |
Stewarton |
Stewarton Initiatives |
| £10,000 |
Crosshouse |
Kilmarnock Business Association |
| £18,000 |
Cumnock and surrounding area |
New Cumnock Development Trust |
| £18,000 |
Doon Valley |
Dalmellington Parish Development Trust |
Quotes from businesses
It is a great scheme. I would not have been able to afford it. Not only has it improved the front of my shop, there has been a big improvement in the whole high street as many other businesses used the fund too.
The difference this has made to our business is not only a visual one, but will now allow us to invest in the interior of the shop.
Having endured a difficult two years during Coronavirus (COVID-19) we were going to toss a coin to see whether it was inside or outside we going to improve, but this funding has allowed us to do both which we are very grateful for.
Makes the street much brighter and makes our shop more professional looking. As a charity we could not justify using the money we raise to improve our shop front.