University of Leeds students benefit from Callcredit retail software

Research staff and students at The University of Leeds' School of Geography are benefiting from access to state-of-the art retail planning tools - thanks to Callcredit Information Group.

Leeds based Callcredit, has donated its market-leading RetailVision software to the University for use in teaching and research programmes. RetailVision is Callcredit's flagship retail planning system, used by major retailers, property professionals and agencies to measure store performance, plan retail strategies and determine the best locations for their stores based on the demographic and competitive profile of a local area. The software is revised and updated every year and has a significant commercial value.

The School of Geography has a long record of excellence in population, geo-demographic and retail modelling studies, which RetailVision can now support. The department is also carrying out several postgraduate research projects with major retailers, in which RetailVision will pay a vital role.

Prof Martin Clarke, professor of Geographical Modelling at the University of Leeds, said: "The School of Geography is known internationally for its expertise in retail location planning, and having access to RetailVision, which is widely recognised as the most advanced and accurate tool in the market today, will give us even more in-depth knowledge and insight.

"It will not only help to inform our research projects, but will also equip our students with experience of the software they will use if they go on to work within the industry. We are very grateful to Callcredit for their support."

The University's School of Geography has long had a close association with Callcredit, with many graduates going on to build successful careers with the company. In addition, the network planning and location analysis business GMAP, which was launched by the University in 1987 and became one of the most successful spin-out companies in the UK, was acquired by Callcredit in 2001.

Michael Jennings, Director of Callcredit's Retail Planning Team, said: "We are delighted that both students and academics in the geography department will be able to benefit from this state-of-the-art technology. It is important that today's students have access to the latest, industry-recognised tools, and RetailVision is used by some of the leading names in retail."