Rochford District Council is holding a free event for business owners in Rayleigh, Essex, to help them find new ways to make their town centres thrive. The High Streets Summit will bring together local shopkeepers and entrepreneurs from Rayleigh, Rochford, and Hockley to talk about the future of local trade.
The summit is scheduled for Monday, 23 March 2026, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. It will be held at The Mill in Rayleigh and is designed to provide practical advice for those running businesses in the current economy.
Expert Diane Wehrle will lead the session as the keynote speaker. She has more than 30 years of experience in studying consumer habits and will share information on how local shops can adapt to what shoppers want today.
The evening will focus on how businesses can work together and use new strategies to stay successful against online competition. The council is encouraging all town centre business owners to book their free tickets to gain these professional insights.
