Working with the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG)

• In 2014, Ellis-Chadwick was invited to join the DCLG’s Digital High Street Steering Group.
• She was then asked to produce the necessary measurement methodology to develop the Group’s Digital High Street Health Index.
• She has also provided training for the DCLG around the impact of digital channels on the high street, and chaired a Public Policy Forum on Digital High Streets.

Digital shop-front training

• In partnership with domain registry Nominet UK, Ellis-Chadwick identified the many disconnected UK high street businesses (≈30%) and encouraged the organisation to create a training guide for them.
• Nearly 10,000 copies of Why your business needs to have a website and four easy steps to getting started (2018) have been distributed, and it is available online for free (5,500 downloads by December 2020).

The Index in action

• Working with DCLG and two LEPs, Ellis-Chadwick led a four-year implementation in Warwickshire and Leicestershire, involving around 10,000 businesses.
• The two County Councils have adopted the Index as part of their strategic development planning and to inform business training, especially amongst SMEs.
• There has been a marked reduction in the number of disconnected businesses in both areas and a significant rise of sophisticated online shopfronts.