Ayr Central to offer local business free retail space
The shopping centre is part of a new initiative to boost small businesses
Ayr Central shopping centre is playing its part in helping small, local businesses get off the ground.
The outlet is part of a group of around 100 shopping centres offering local businesses the opportunity to apply for free retail space.
It's part of an initiative called Free Space+. Applicants will be asked to demonstrate how trading from their local shopping centre would accelerate their growth.
Judging panels will select the winners in January 2018 and successful businesses that choose Ayr Central will then be able to occupy space in the centre for three months.
Centre Manager at Ayr Central George Reader says, "It's very, very expensive for businesses to get started and in this economic climate, high street retailers are also suffering because of online sales.
"But the nation's favourite hobby is shopping. We're seeing the demand as our footfall is up and we have retailers here saying that things are better than last year.
"So this is the type of opportunity for young companies who want to start but aren't ready to go into the lease side of things. It's a starter platform to allow them to move on to something more permanent."
The closing date to enter Free Space+ is 1st December.
To find out more about this initiative or to enter go to www.revocommunity.org/freespace