£1m of marketing support to help firms bounce back

Reach plc, publisher of BirminghamLive, the Birmingham Mail and the Birmingham Post, is helping businesses across the UK with £1 million of free marketing support through an initiative called #BackForGood.

To galvanise the sector and help businesses reconnect with customers as lockdown measures ease, Reach are offering a years free InYourArea business membership worth a total of £1 million.

InYourArea Business membership gives companies the opportunity to engage with thousands of potential customers by owning their area, building their profile and being found in search.

The membership will be available to the first 10,000 companies who supply their details to the new #BackforGood directory.

Marc Reeves (pictured), Reach marketplace publisher for the Midlands and Wales said: “Reach 's regional titles are passionate about supporting retail, the beating heart of every community. Our entire regional editorial, marketing and sales business is rallying to ensure that local businesses are given every chance to succeed on the high street and online. ”

#BackForGood is the biggest regional editorial and commercial initiative of its kind to date and is endorsed by the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) which represents approximately 7,000 UK businesses.

More than 20 regional print titles and over 60 digital editions (full list below) across London, South Wales, the Midlands, North East and Yorkshire, North-West and North Wales and the South West will be supporting the launch in the coming weeks with specially created 're-opening ' What 's On editorial, as well as business to business content.

BIRA will also be offering a 50% discount to new members for their first year. This offers genuine savings on crucial business services, from product buying and card processing, legal and HR services, marketing and even discounts on vehicle purchases.

Andrew Goodacre, BIRA ceo, added: “Independent retailers have suffered their worst ever year since March 23 2020, when the first lockdown started.

“Despite this, they will look forward to re-opening and serving customers. It is, however, a real make-or-break situation for many retail businesses. They now need to know two things - that lockdowns are a thing of the past, and that customers will return to the high street with confidence.

“We know the retailers will keep shopping safe and we hope the shoppers reciprocate by returning to the shops and come Back for Good.

Details about the Back for Good directory can be found here.