Frequently asked questions
How will Thriver help solve my vacancy challenge?
Thriver is part of a wider approach designed to help you fill hard-to-let units and reduce void periods. Through the Incubator programme, we generate interest from local independent businesses by offering a rent-free, rate-free unit for 3–6 months. Thriver provides those businesses with structured support to improve their chances of long-term success. Once incubated, we help convert the best-performing businesses into leaseholders or licensees, improving your NOI and tenant mix. For existing tenants, Accelerator projects funded by landlords use Thriver to strengthen performance and reduce tenant failure.
What is an incubator?
An Incubator is a short-term, zero-cost tenancy (3–6 months) for selected independent businesses, typically offered through a competition. It includes full support from Thriver and a Success Manager to help the business become trading-ready. The goal is to transition successful incubatees onto leases, converting voids into income-generating tenants.
What is an accelerator?
An Accelerator is a landlord-funded initiative that offers selected existing tenants a paid subscription to Thriver, helping them grow, turnaround or scale. It’s ideal for strengthening tenant performance and reducing churn, especially in marginal or underperforming retail spaces.
What is an Anchor?
In our model, an Anchor is a larger unit designed as a multi-tenant space, such as an indoor market. It hosts multiple independents under one roof, supported by Thriver, and acts as a draw for footfall while absorbing voids more flexibly.
Can I roll out Thriver for existing retail tenants?
Yes. Through an Accelerator programme, you can offer Thriver to existing tenants, either on the basic plan (app-only) or with a Success Manager for coaching and support. This helps tenants improve performance and reduces the risk of churn or default.
Once we sign up, is there a long-term commitment required from the landlord?
No. Both Incubator and Accelerator programmes are flexible. The Incubator campaign is a one-off fee with ongoing support billed monthly per tenant you want to incubate. The Accelerator is month-to-month based on the number of tenants funded. No long-term commitment is required.
Is there a minimum number of vacant units needed to work together?
No fixed minimum, but the Incubator works best with at least one available unit and potential for future leases. If you have multiple voids or hard-to-let spaces, we can tailor the scale of the campaign accordingly.
Can partnering with Thriver help improve my NOI?
Yes. Empty units generate no income and often incur costs. By using Thriver as part of the Incubator or Accelerator, you reduce void periods, increase lease conversions, improve tenant performance, and recover rates, rent and service charges — all directly contributing to NOI uplift.
How much does it cost retail tenants to subscribe per month?
If there is no funding partner to cover the costs, tenants can sign up directly, from as little as £50 per month.
Within funded programmes we offer ‘add on’ options, for example access to a dedicated Success Manager.
Why is Thriver better than just using ChatGPT or another LLM online?
ChatGPT provides general answers. Thriver is purpose-built for independent high street and consumer-facing businesses, offering structured guidance, task management, progress tracking, AI-generated content, and (in higher tiers) human support. It’s more than a chatbot — it’s a business growth system tailored to real-world trading challenges, with integrations and expert oversight.
Why would our programmes be more effective, efficient, or cost-effective?
We combine place-based tenant sourcing with AI-powered business support. Our campaigns attract serious, independent operators you won’t find through traditional agents. Our platform, Thriver, gives them structured support across all areas of business, reducing the risk of failure. We’re more cost-effective than running separate marketing, leasing, and business support programmes — and our performance model aligns our success with your NOI uplift.
Previous experience. Can we speak to other landlords you've worked with?
Yes, we’ve delivered projects for landlords of shopping centres, high street units, and mixed-use schemes. We’re happy to arrange introductions to previous clients who can share their experience.
Who’s involved in the project? Who is our daily contact?
Each project includes:
- A Project Lead (your main day-to-day contact)
- A Campaign Manager (responsible for tenant sourcing)
- A Success Manager (who supports the selected tenants)
- Access to our wider team, including data, brand, marketing and tech specialists.
You’ll have regular updates, a single point of contact, and full transparency throughout.
What are the timescales to deliver?
A typical Incubator campaign runs as follows:
- Weeks 1–3: Campaign design, materials and pre-launch outreach
- Weeks 4–6: Campaign launch and application window
- Week 7–8: Evaluation and selection
- Month 3 onwards: Incubation phase (3–6 months)
We can adapt timescales to fit your letting strategy or scheme priorities.
If pop-up tenants want to stay, what’s your role? Do you charge extra?
Our goal is to transition successful incubatees onto leases or licences. We work closely with your team or letting agents to support that handover — including preparing tenants, reviewing performance, and advising on viability. We do not charge extra for this.
Our programme models
With SaveTheHighStreet and Thriver, we can deliver scalable programmes that meet your local goals:
Why partner with us
Trusted by dozens of councils and landlords nationwide
Backed by SaveTheHighStreet.org, a movement supporting 25,000+ local businesses since 2016
Powered by Thriver, the UK’s only AI tool built specifically for high street entrepreneurs
Delivered via a team who understands high streets, business support, and place strategy
Proven to improve tenant mix, NOI, trader confidence, and local economic resilience
One movement. One tool. One mission.
As Thriver and SaveTheHighStreet, we’re fighting for the future of the high street. Because we believe every independent business owner deserves access to this kind of support – whether you’re brand new, or 20 years in.
If you want to get more done, whilst saving time to focus on what you’re best at: we’re here for you.
Let’s end vacancy and build better high streets - together
We’re already live in UK town centres—with more launching soon. Whether you’re looking to support your existing traders, attract new ones, or activate empty space—we’d love to talk.
Proven support for your traders.
Measurable impact for you.