The types of initiative vary. Twenty have a capital element and cover activities such as town centre regeneration, environmental or access improvements. Others cover groups set up to undertake studies into the topics of economic development, trade loyalty schemes, marketing to attract inward investment, and town centre management. The most common concern was environmental improvements, followed by tackling the problem of empty or struggling shops. Also reflected in the survey were the provision of community buildings, workspace developments, community events, searching for funding sources, and a community skills audit.
Most initiatives feature the involvement of local authorities and town councils.
Some 60 per cent involve chambers of trade or other representatives of commerce. Just under half also involve representatives of the voluntary sector, and a similar number have the active involvement of the Rural Development Commission. Other partners revealed by the research include training and enterprise councils, English Partnerships, development trusts, universities, rural community councils, and the regional tourist boards. A prime aim of the research was to provide background information for the launch of Action for Market Towns . Action for Market Towns is to publicise several of these examples in detailed case studies.