Innovative small businesses desired for retail festival collaboration by Mastercard, Worldpay, and Mary Portas in Thrive Street 2025 project.
Thrive Street 2025: Empowering Independent UK Retailers
Thrive Street 2025, a new retail festival led by Mary Portas in collaboration with Mastercard and Worldpay, is set to shine a spotlight on up to 30 high-potential independent UK small businesses. The festival will take place over two consecutive long weekends in October 2025, with events in Manchester's NOMA neighbourhood (17-19 October) and London's Shoreditch at Truman Brewery (24-26 October) 1, 2, 3.
The initiative aims to celebrate innovation, community values, and entrepreneurial spirit within the UK’s independent retail sector. Thrive Street 2025 offers selected small businesses curated retail space to showcase products with purpose, character, and innovation during the daytime, transforming into hubs of insight and inspiration by night, hosting business masterclasses, expert panels, and networking events open to all local entrepreneurs and retailers 1, 2, 3.
Beyond retail space, Thrive Street 2025 provides expert mentoring and national exposure for the chosen businesses, helping foster growth and connection within the independent retail ecosystem. Mary Portas emphasizes the importance of small businesses to the economy and communities, stating that Thrive Street 2025 offers more than just recognition by providing real support through mentorship and visibility 1, 3.
Mastercard and Worldpay's involvement aligns with their longstanding commitment to supporting small businesses in the UK. Mastercard has been facilitating access to financial tools and services for over a million UK entrepreneurs since 2021 through programs like Strive 3. Worldpay has been empowering UK small and growing businesses for decades with trusted, simple, and secure payment technology.
Applications are now open for innovative, growing businesses that are community or environmentally minded and have reimagined products or services in creative ways 1, 2, 3. If you are running such a business, you can apply by following the provided link. Thrive Street 2025 is open to all local entrepreneurs and retailers, making it a powerful stage for small businesses to thrive.
References:
[1] Thrive Street 2025 - Manchester. (n.d.). Retrieved May 17, 2023, from https://www.thrivestreet.com/manchester
[2] Thrive Street 2025 - London. (n.d.). Retrieved May 17, 2023, from https://www.thrivestreet.com/london
[3] Mastercard and Worldpay announce Thrive Street 2025. (2022, April 13). Retrieved May 17, 2023, from https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/news/press/2022/april/mastercard-and-worldpay-announce-thrive-street-2025.html
- Thrive Street 2025 is an upcoming retail festival taking place in Manchester's NOMA neighborhood and London's Shoreditch, celebrating independent UK small businesses.
- The festival will offer selected businesses curated retail space, expert mentoring, national exposure, and networking opportunities, emphasizing the importance of small businesses to the economy and communities.
- Mastercard and Worldpay are involved in Thrive Street 2025, aligning with their commitment to support small businesses in the UK, with Mastercard facilitating access to financial tools since 2021.
- Innovative, growing businesses with a focus on community or the environment can apply for Thrive Street 2025 by following the provided link, making it a powerful stage for small businesses to thrive. Applications are open to all local entrepreneurs and retailers.
