Votes open for High Street Heroes 2026

Voting for High Street Heroes 2026 across Telford and Wrekin has now opened.

Published on: 1 September 2026

The awards, part of the Council’s Pride in Our High Street programme, recognise the difference businesses are making in their local high streets and the support they have each given to their local communities.

Residents and businesses can nominate their favourite high street business which goes the extra mile.

Last year over 1500 nominations were received and a total of 29 High Street Heroes were crowned across the six Borough towns of Dawley, Ironbridge, Madeley, Newport, Oakengates and Wellington.

Winners ranged from pubs and hair salons to kitchen specialists, clothes shops, cafes and travel centres.

Vote here for your High Street Heroes 2026 (one vote per person/email address). Voting closes on 16 October 2026.

Winners will be presented with trophies and certificates in the run up to Small Business Saturday on Saturday 5 December.

The Pride in Our High Street programme continues to support local businesses and retailers through business start-up trial grants and business start-up grants.

Start-up trial grants give previously home-based or online businesses the opportunity to test them out on the high street in the form of a market stall or small retail unit, while business start-up grants give businesses the chance to expand by having a permanent high street presence.

Small Business Saturday is a national, annual campaign which takes place on the first Saturday in December – encouraging people to shop locally and support all types of small businesses online, in offices and high street stores.

Councillor Ollie Vickers, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs, Transport and Digital Connectivity, said:

“Our High Street Heroes awards are a really important way of recognising a wide range of local businesses which are excelling on our high streets.

“These businesses are so important across Telford and Wrekin and their value is recognised by Telford & Wrekin Council through these awards which are voted for by customers and other businesses which benefit directly from their services.

“Last year we received a record number of nominations and we’d encourage people to back their favourite businesses again this year.”

Find out more about Pride in Our High Street and the support which is available here.