Simon Roberts appointed as new co-chairman of the Future High Streets Forum.

High Streets Minister Brandon Lewis today (29 April 2014) announced the appointment of Simon Roberts, Managing Director, Health and Beauty UK and Republic of Ireland, Alliance Boots, as fellow co-chairman of the Future High Streets Forum. Mr Roberts takes over from Alex Gourlay, from Alliance Boots, who stepped down last year. The Future High Streets Forum brings together leaders across retail, property and business to better understand the competition in town centres across the country and to drive forward new ideas and policies.

High Streets Minister Brandon Lewis said: " The needs of the modern shopper are changing and our high streets must keep pace in order to remain relevant and prosper. The forum is making sure this happens. By bringing together business, councils, retailers and property experts to work on projects that will help rejuvenate British high streets we can create new jobs and boost local growth in the process. Simon’s expertise is going to be a great addition to the team."

Simon Roberts, Managing Director, Health and Beauty UK and Republic of Ireland, Alliance Boots, said: "Boots has long been committed to the vitality of UK high streets and our work with the forum continues this legacy of engagement and support. While progress has been made, we recognise the need for a new level of collaboration among retailers and the broader business community. I am thrilled to be joining the forum as co-chairman and look forward to working further with other like-minded businesses, local authorities and the government to support the creation of healthy, prosperous high streets for many years to come."

The forum met today to further develop a coordinated response to the challenges faced by the high streets across the country. Members agreed to establish a new group that will deliver a strategy to combine new digital technologies with the traditional bricks and mortar high street. This will be informed by a research review currently being conducted by the University of Southampton to examine the evolving characteristics of high streets.