BASINGSTOKE shopping centre Festival Place has been shortlisted for three industry awards.

The Sceptre Awards shine the spotlight on the country’s best management teams, retailers and suppliers as it celebrates and rewards excellence in the shopping industry.

Festival Place in Basingstoke is vying for awards in the sustainability initiative, community initiative, and retail liaison categories.

The shopping centre’s support of the community food link (CFL) has seen it shortlisted in the sustainability initiative category.

The community food link was set up during lockdown to save leftover fresh and nutritious food from local supermarkets going to landfill.

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A dedicated team of volunteers redirect the food free of charge to feed more than 3,000 vulnerable people around the community every week through a network of churches, food pantries, schools and nurseries across our area.

When circumstances meant the CFL was forced to look for new premises last year, Festival Place stepped in and offered the space it needed to set up a new distribution centre within the scheme at no cost to the charity. 

Since then, the organisation has grown and continues to evolve to meet the needs of the local community.

In the community initiative category, Festival Place stood out for its collaboration with Instagram favourite and mental health advocate The Beardy Gardener, local businesses, and schools.

Beardy Gardener Leigh Johnstone created a healing garden at Festival Place where local people can connect with plants to support their mental health and wellbeing.

Children from local schools Marnel Junior and Fairfields Primary joined in with planting a range of sensory plants donated by Hardy’s Plants and other Basingstoke businesses.

The Business Performance Team has introduced several new initiatives for both retailers and the centre, putting it in the running for the Retail Liaison award.

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These include the award-winning MyFP retailer app, free retailer training, and data reports to all retailers that highlight opportunities to increase turnover and influence retail strategy.

Centre director Neil Churchill said: “To be shortlisted for three prestigious Sceptre Awards is testament to the hard work of all those involved and highlights our support for our fantastic local community. 

“I’m incredibly proud of all our teams involved as well as the great initiatives set up both inside and outside the centre. To receive this kind of recognition is the icing on the cake!”

Business performance manager Rachel Carter said: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the Retail Liaison Award, which recognises the positive relationship we strive to build between ourselves and retailers.

“Great communication underpins everything we do, and our MyFP app has been a huge success, with 100 per cent of retailers onboard and 2,300 employees on the app.”

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Thursday, October 19, at the Hilton London Bankside.