New awards celebrate Wales’ High Street Heroes

People across Wales are being encouraged to celebrate the businesses and individuals which make the biggest contribution to their vibrant local high streets by nominating them for a prestigious new national award.

The High Street Heroes awards are part of the Support Your High Street campaign, which showcases the vast range of shops and services available on Wales’ diverse high streets and town centres.

Businesses and services can be nominated in one or more of six categories: food & drink; fashion, health & beauty; leisure, home & garden; professional & financial services; eating out on the high street; and community service provider.

People are also encouraged to nominate their overall High Street Hero – an individual deserving recognition for their outstanding contribution to their local high street and community.

Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Lesley Griffiths, launched this year’s campaign and the new awards at Princes Café in Pontypridd, which has been in the Gambarini family for over 60 years and is now run by twin brothers David and Joe.

Lesley Griffiths said:

“High streets are the heart of our local communities. They offer access to vital services, support our economy and provide opportunities for people to come together to socialise.

“Our High Street Heroes awards recognise the hard work and dedication of people and businesses up and down the country which are providing high-quality services and boosting their local communities.

“We want to celebrate the achievements of local traders, like the Princes Café here in Pontypridd, which make an outstanding contribution to their town centres. I encourage everybody to vote for their favourites!”

Voting for the High Street Heroes awards is online via the Support Your High Street Facebook page and entries close on 10 August 2015.

A shortlist of Heroes from across Wales will be reviewed by a panel of judges, who will select the overall High Street Hero winner, with the winners in the business categories decided by popular vote. The winners will be announced during High Street Week, which is taking place 19-26 September 2015.