How innovations today are shaping healthier workplaces of...
2nd May 2024
In the fast-paced world of automotive manufacturing and research, the health and safety of workers has always been paramount. However, the industry is witnessing a revolutionary shift, not only in how cars are designed and driven but also in how workplaces are becoming safer and healthier. Compliance expert Adam Cox explains.
THANKS to...
Yielding up: A crucial clause in your end of lease...
1st May 2024
COMMERCIAL property leases are complex and intricate legal documents that regulate the relationship between landlords and tenants. Among the myriad of clauses within a lease, the “yielding up" provisions are one of the most critical and, if not properly drafted, can result in significant expense for the landlord or tenant when the...
Dinosaurs, strawberries and memories of Mel amid the cherry...
23rd April 2024
You’ve already completed several marathons. Why Tokyo?
My dream is to complete all six World Marathon Majors. Tokyo was my fifth Major and it also fell on the birthday of Melanie Collins – a much-loved friend and colleague who lost her battle to cancer last year. I tied this marathon in with fundraising for Cancer Research in memory...
Full steam ahead… I like a challenge
23rd April 2024
ENGINEERING has been in Ian Taylor’s blood for as long as he can remember. He graduated in the subject at the University of London, worked for London Transport designing Tube trains that are still in use today and was part of the development of the first driverless train tested on the London Underground network.
It never went...
A tale of one city, innovating with a brazen creativity that...
2nd April 2024
AS THE LAST echoes of applause fade from Stadium MK following the tenth annual Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards, we have taken a moment to reflect on an incredible evening of celebration writes awards chair Nicholas Mann (pictured above).
The energy in the room was palpable as more than 750 businesspeople from across the region came...
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Rise in retail spend flouts national trend: City...
3rd May 2024
RETAIL sales in Central Milton Keynes are up by more than 5% year on year for the first quarter of 2024, driven by an increase in the number of customers.
New...
Good morning… and welcome to #LoveMKDay
2nd May 2024
TODAY’S the day… yes, it’s #LoveMK Day once again.
Destination Milton Keynes, the city’s official tourism organisation, is once again asking the people of...
How innovations today are shaping healthier...
2nd May 2024
In the fast-paced world of automotive manufacturing and research, the health and safety of workers has always been paramount. However, the industry is witnessing a...
Business
Rise in retail spend flouts national trend: City...
RETAIL sales in Central Milton Keynes are up by more than 5% year on year for the first quarter of 2024, driven by an increase in the number of customers.New figures from MyMiltonKeynes Business Improvement District based on data of in-store debit card spend shows that the total spent in city centre stores and other venues totalled £30.9 million, compared to £29.2 million in March 2023.
The city centre welcomed around 373,000 retail visitors in March, up by 9% on 12 months previously. More than half came from outside the borough boundaries, a 2.2% increase on 2023.
MyMiltonKeynes BID’s chief executive Jill Farnsworth said: "A key highlight of Milton Keynes’ success story is the significant uptick in foot traffic, particularly from outside the local area, reflecting the city's undeniable appeal as a premier retail destination."
Fashion retailers recorded around 30% of the total spending figure but there are significant increases for health and beauty, grocery and food and drink retailers, the BID figures show.
"With over 200 retailers, a great mix of restaurants, cafes and bars, and every leisure activity you could possibly wish for – all easily accessible on foot, by car and train – it is not surprising people choose to spend here," said Jill.
"As consumer confidence grows, we look forward to continued growth for city centre businesses."
The figures are in contrast to the national trend, which reports an overall decline in March 2024 of 5.4%.
MyMiltonKeynes BID collaborated with Beauclair, which records offline transactions from over 11 million debit card accounts, geotagging each transaction to track merchant location and retail sector.
Good morning… and welcome to #LoveMKDay
2nd May 2024
TODAY’S the day… yes, it’s #LoveMK Day once again.
Destination Milton Keynes, the city’s official tourism organisation, is once again asking the people of...
How innovations today are shaping healthier workplaces of the future
2nd May 2024
In the fast-paced world of automotive manufacturing and research, the health and safety of workers has always been paramount. However, the industry is witnessing a...
Organisers eye a fundraising record as the Franklins £50 Challenge nears completion
1st May 2024
PEDAL power is surging businesses in Milton Keynes towards a record fundraising total for four city-based charities in the Franklins £50 Challenge. The challenge...
‘Not only a priority but a necessity’: City needs to get building new homes to meet future housing need, says planning specialist
1st May 2024
MILTON KEYNES needs to build more than 32,700 new homes in less than two decades to meet the needs of the city’s 2040 population, research by socio-economic experts at...
Yielding up: A crucial clause in your end of lease obligations
1st May 2024
COMMERCIAL property leases are complex and intricate legal documents that regulate the relationship between landlords and tenants. Among the myriad of clauses within...
Plough your money into a super tax-efficient business trust
1st May 2024
Sponsored Article
Published on behalf of Wealth & Tax Management.DO YOU run a successful business asks Tony Byrne, managing director of Wealth &...
Financial
Rise in retail spend flouts national trend: City centre...
3rd May 2024
RETAIL sales in Central Milton Keynes are up by more than 5% year on year for the first quarter of 2024, driven by an increase in the number of customers.
New...
How innovations today are shaping healthier workplaces of...
2nd May 2024
In the fast-paced world of automotive manufacturing and research, the health and safety of workers has always been paramount. However, the industry is witnessing a...
Legal
Organisers eye a fundraising record as the Franklins £50...
1st May 2024
PEDAL power is surging businesses in Milton Keynes towards a record fundraising total for four city-based charities in the Franklins £50 Challenge. The challenge...
Yielding up: A crucial clause in your end of lease...
1st May 2024
COMMERCIAL property leases are complex and intricate legal documents that regulate the relationship between landlords and tenants. Among the myriad of clauses within...
Bedfordshire
Vauxhall’s Luton plant director and UK manufacturing...
26th April 2024
THE DIRECTOR of the Vauxhall van-making plant in Luton is to retire after 36 years with the company.
Mark Noble joined the Luton factory in 1988 as a production...
Professor Joe Nellis: 40th anniversary scholarship tribute...
26th April 2024
CONGRATULATIONS to Professor Joe Nellis, world economy expert and Deputy Dean at Cranfield School of Management, who has had a MBA scholarship fund named in his honour to...
