THE best way to predict the future is to help create it yourself.

That was the challenge to Bournemouth town centre businesses at the first meeting of the new Peer to Peer Board at AFC Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium.

Established by the Bournemouth Town Centre BID as part of the response to the twin challenges of Covid and the changing nature of high streets, the board has brought together a number of non-competing businesses over a ten month period.

They will work together to share experiences, ideas, best practice and opportunities.

Chair of the board, Susannah Brade Waring of consultants Aspirin Business told the members: “Everyone has something to offer because you all have experience and a huge amount of knowledge. But sometimes we are so in the thick of doing what we do, it’s not always easy to see if our business is going in the right direction.

“We are all having to rebuild the picture after the pandemic and each of us has a piece of the picture.”

She said the board would look at which problems and challenges were common and those unique to individual businesses.

Chief operating officer of the BID, Paul Kinvig, added: “Thank you for your commitment to trading in Bournemouth town centre. You are all independent or independent thinking businesses and you are essential to the future of the town’s success. You have the ability to make things happen.”

Among those taking part in the project are Lush, McDonalds, Naked Coffee, Centre VR, Poole Hill Brewery, Rawlins Davy, Yobu, Roberta and Ashes Menswear.

All the business owners will receive one to one mentoring and the group is part of a wider peer to peer network.

The board project and an initiative to improve customer experience run by Insight 6 are also being part funded by BCP Council as part of pandemic recovery support.