A new silver jewellery store on Redcar High Street is celebrating a strong start after receiving targeted financial support.
B Silver, the silver jewellery sister store to neighbouring BONDS Gold, opened in July 2025. Business partners Craig Robinson and Gavin Hubbard used grant support from a programme designed to attract new and expanding businesses into Redcar town centre to build and diversify the retail offer.
Craig, 37, from Marske, has been part of BONDS for two years and said opening B Silver was always part of their long-term plan, but the funding allowed them to move faster.
“The grant funding pushed us towards opening,” Craig said. “It was our plan all along, but this helped accelerate it.”
The funding, from Tees Valley Combined Authority and delivered by Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, supported the set-up of the new store, creating two new jobs and bringing a previously unused High Street unit back into productive use. Craig worked with the council throughout the process to move the project forward.
Since opening, trade has been strong, especially in the lead‑up to Christmas.
Craig is a vocal supporter of shopping locally and sees a thriving high street as essential for Redcar’s future.
“Shopping online can be great, but it’s not the same,” he said. “You can have a good nosey. I quite like to give local businesses my business, too.”
This commitment shaped the entire shop fit-out. “Carpets, plasterer, builder, all local. It feels good. It’s nice to deal with the person who owns the business. They take pride in their work. I feel very strongly about supporting small and local businesses.”
Next on the horizon is a dedicated website to complement their existing eBay presence.
“We have just been finding our feet, but the website is our next step.”
B Silver is one of 12 businesses to have benefitted from this funding so far. As the High Street units are privately owned, the council does not have control over them, but the grant scheme is proving an effective way to encourage investment and new uses.
The opening of B Silver is part of a wider programme of improvements to Redcar High Street which is being funded by the Redcar Town Deal, including new paving, benches, planters and trees.
Cllr Lynn Pallister, Cabinet Member for Growth and Enterprise at the council, said:
“Supporting local businesses is central to building a stronger, more confident Redcar, and I’m so pleased to see B Silver doing well. What impresses me most here is the commitment to using local tradespeople and keeping investment in the town, it helps multiple business and it is vital for our local economy. I wish them best of luck for the future.”
Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, said:
"It's great to see another empty shop unit brought back to use on Redcar High Street and a local business expanding and creating jobs.
"Support like this is all about helping local entrepreneurs take that next step, growing their business, bringing more people into our town centres and driving our local economy, Craig and the team are a great example of the pride and ambition we have in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool, and I wish them every success as B Silver continues to grow."