WORCESTER has been chosen as a front-runner for a new scheme that could benefit about 250 independent retailers in the town.

The scheme involves a team of researchers consulting with Worcester's independent retailers to determine both barriers to, and opportunities for, success for smaller retailers.

Information collected from the survey will be compared and analysed against information collected in Spain, with a view to learning lessons from the similarities and differences in the retail sectors of the two countries.

Georgia Smith, of the Worcester City Centre Forum, which is supporting the twinning scheme, said the programme was centring on Spain because it had encountered similar problems to the UK, with large, out-of-town shopping centres springing up and threatening traditional city-centre shopping. But the scheme could be rolled out to include other European countries as well.

She said the independent retail sector - numbering about 250 shops in Worcester - was extremely important. She said independents, which were shops with fewer than 100 employees, complemented the large, multiple retailers.

"We are trying to make Worcester a place where independent retailers can do good business," said Miss Smith.

"Independent retailers bring something different to the city - that's what makes Worcester special.

"Large multiples drive foot-fall, but independents bring something different and interesting. They make people want to come back again, and of course they add interest for local shoppers as well."

The Faithful City is one of 14 pilot locations in Britain being surveyed under the scheme, which is being run by the Retail Enterprise Network, based at the Manchester Metropolitan University Business School.

The scheme twins retail districts in towns all over Britain with retail districts in Spain, allowing shopkeepers to exchange information on security, staff, maximising profit, technology, merchandising and customer service.

The Worcester survey started on Monday and will continue for about two weeks.