Peterborough's Up The Garden Bath and retail venture Unity close to generating £1 million for small businesses

Unity, which is based in the Queensgate Shopping Centre, supports more than 50 local independent businesses, crafters, and artists, by providing a valuable high street retail space that alone each trader could not afford.

It began as a six week pop-up venture five years ago but since then has gone from strength to strength and became a permanent store in December 2024.

Over that time the combined value of the sales achieved is now approaching the £1 million mark.

Co-founders Dave Poulton and Kez Hayes-Palmer said “Unity is on the brink of a remarkable milestone – nearly £1 million returned directly to independent local businesses.

"This has been accomplished against the backdrop of one of the toughest trading periods the high street has faced in decades.

"While national chains continue to close and high streets shrink, UNITY has created opportunity.

"We support over 50 small businesses each month, giving makers and micro-entrepreneurs an affordable high street presence.”

In addition, the income generated through the shop helps to fund Up The Garden Bath’s wider community programmes.

These include upcycling fly-tipped bathtubs into educational garden planters, delivering sustainability and food-growing workshops in schools, promoting biodiversity and environmental responsibility and providing free creative activities that have reached more than 30,000 families.

Dave and Kez said: “The shop creates economic resilience for small businesses, and in turn, enables educational and environmental projects that benefit thousands of families.

"hose families then visit UNITY, support local makers, and strengthen the entire ecosystem. It is collaboration in action.”