By Spalding town centre manager Dennis Hannant
Having handed in my military clothing and equipment, identity card and car pass and received my final MoD pay slip, I now feel able to leave my military career behind me, albeit tinged with some sadness and move forward in my new role as the Town Centre Manager.
On first impressions the fundamentals of the job (staffing, planning, co-ordinating, supervising, controlling, motivating and reporting) are not too dissimilar to what I have been doing in the Army for the last 40 odd years. I have a chain of command i.e. my commanding officer is the chairman of the Town Centre Management Board (TCMB), the chief executive of Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce is my regional brigade commander and Lincolnshire County Council (and SHDC) is akin to Army headquarters.
The various retailers, service providers, charity organisations, clubs and civic groups are like regiments and units, all with their own focus, priorities and methods of doing things; but all with a common goal of running a successful organisation. Their staff and members are the soldiers, who help make things happen.
The town centre and hinterland is the “battle space” (or economic and social environment), which has some “enemy forces” (or weaknesses) and of course some “friendly forces” (or strengths); identifying these and managing them to best effect will be key to the success of my job, which essentially is to act as the co-ordinator and enabler for events and improvements, that will enhance the shopping experience and give consumers a reason to visit, which in turn will generate increased customer flow into Spalding Town Centre.
My first main task is to formulate a business plan for the town centre and once completed and endorsed by the TCMB, my second main task will be to communicate this plan to all stakeholders, including the people of Spalding and elsewhere.
I am now looking forward to getting on with the job and also working alongside the people in the community.
