How Maybe* Transformed Urban Revitalisation Across The UK With AI-Powered Solutions
Client Profile
The High Streets Task Force (HSTF), a government-backed entity dedicated to supporting the transformation of high streets across the UK, works with placemakers and local authorities to revitalise urban centres and foster economic growth in communities throughout the nation.
Key Challenges
The HSTF faced significant obstacles in understanding and responding to the complex dynamics affecting UK high streets and local businesses. Traditional approaches were failing to capture the real-time pulse of consumer sentiment and business performance. Stakeholders often struggled to interpret and act on data-driven insights, leading to fragmented decision-making and missed opportunities for intervention.
Without robust, evidence-based tools, strategies for high street revitalisation were often based on outdated reports or anecdotal observations rather than real-time trends. 'Moreover, there was a pressing challenge in linking broader high street rejuvenation efforts with tangible benefits for local businesses, making it difficult to measure success or ensure that interventions translated into sustained economic growth.
→ Difficulty analysing vast amounts of unstructured social media data from 3.5 million UK businesses
→ Limited visibility into consumer sentiment across 3,600 UK locations
→ Inconsistent benchmarking methods for comparing high-street performance
"Maybe* has a proven solution that can be used as a central pillar of the recovery of town centres across the UK."
Professor Cathy Parker, Lead of the High Streets Task Force
The Maybe* Solution
To revolutionise high street revitalisation efforts, the HSTF partnered with Maybe* to implement an AI-driven ecosystem that would transform how local authorities understand and respond to consumer sentiment. The collaboration created a comprehensive approach to data-informed urban planning and business support.
→ AI-powered sentiment analysis processing data from over 3.5 million UK businesses
→ Sophisticated natural language processing (NLP) to interpret social media interactions
→ API integration feeding real-time insights into a dedicated HSTF dashboard
→ Benchmarking capabilities comparing sentiment across 3,600 UK locations
→ Regular educational webinars on data interpretation and trend analysis
→ Training programs empowering stakeholders with actionable insights
“Our goal? To be the torchbearers of AI-driven urban transformation. We're crafting solutions that don't just track trends but set them. We're about connecting the dots between thriving local businesses and vibrant high streets.”
Polly Barnfield OBE, CEO Maybe*
Results
The implementation of Maybe* AI across the High Streets Task Force has transformed urban revitalisation efforts, delivering unprecedented insights and measurable impacts
This innovative approach has fundamentally redefined the relationship between high street rejuvenation and local business success, positioning AI as a cornerstone of urban transformation strategy. The Maybe* platform continues to expand its influence across UK urban centres, establishing new standards for AI-driven solutions while delivering actionable insights that connect thriving local businesses with vibrant high streets.
→ Enhanced Stakeholder Engagement – Significantly increasing participation through webinars and training
→ Geographic Expansion – Supporting new projects with multiple local authorities including London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, Buckinghamshire County Council, and North Kesteven District Council
→ Measurable Urban Impact – Creating tangible improvements in high street vitality through data-informed strategies
→ Cross-Regional Knowledge Sharing – Breaking down silos between different urban regeneration initiatives