Visa, in partnership with the UK Retail Consortium (BRC), announced the winners of its 2025 Celebration Town Awards in recognition of six outstanding British towns of its commitment to innovation, resilience and economic and community growth.
Each winning town will receive a £20,000 grant to support a new or ongoing community project designed to promote local development, create jobs and support small businesses.
Now, in Year 3, let’s celebrate the Town Programme demonstrates the crucial role that towns in the UK play in fostering community-led programs and promoting economic resilience. The 2025 edition focuses on six key areas where local prosperity is crucial: high street transformation, small business support, future skills, connectivity, cycles and dynamic changes.
The winners of this year are:
•Ramsgate – Small Business Support
•Gosport – Future Skills
•Morecambe – Connectivity
•Swanley – Dynamic Change
•Malton & Norton – Circular
•Wallsend – High Street Transformation
Each of these communities demonstrates outstanding leadership and creativity to address local challenges and create opportunities for inclusive growth.
Mandy Lamb, managing director of Visa UK & Ireland, said the award program continues to reflect visa belief in the power of a strong local economy.
“We believe that as our towns flourish, the overall UK thrives. Many people live and work in these vibrant communities, which makes investing in their growth and development critical. We are proud to emphasize the resilience and innovation that defines these towns.”
Helen Dickinson, CEO of the UK retail consortium, relate to the importance of the program in supporting the streets and the broader economy.
“Our collaboration with Visa highlights the dynamic role of retail in cultivating thriving streets and vibrant local economies. The achievements of these award-winning towns are inspiring examples of best practice.”
Since its launch in 2022, let’s celebrate the support of 22 towns across the UK, providing recognition and funding to drive grass-roots development and expand the impact of local initiatives.
The £20,000 reward per town will be used to win projects with their respective categories – from improving high street footprints and upgrading digital infrastructure to investing in green programs or future workforce skills.
With growing interest in sustainable growth and community-first economic development, the award provides a blueprint for how UK towns can adapt and thrive in the changing high street dynamics and changing shifts in consumer behavior.
