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Did you know that you may be able to access Superfast Broadband?
Superfast Worcestershire would like to connect as many businesses and people as possible and it has never been easier!
You can use BT’s speed checker to see if you have a live service. But don’t forget you will need to upgrade to upgrade to a superfast package to take advantage of the infrastructure upgrades.
If you are not yet able to receive a superfast service, please register here.
Businesses and communities can also consider the Gigabit Voucher scheme which contributes to the installation cost of a gigabit-capable connection. Businesses can claim up to £2,500 against the cost of connection either individually or as part of a group project. For more information about the scheme, contact the team on superfast@worcestershire.gov.uk
For further details on this scheme, click here.
Foodies, real ale aficionados and fine wine enthusiasts alike will find something to their whet their appetites when Worcester Food Festival returns to the city on Friday, June 8.
The annual free festival offers a delicious weekend (8-10 June) full of tasty treats, cookery demonstrations and a feast of family friendly activities and free music.
The city will be sizzling with more than 60 stalls, and visitors can also try the ‘Ale Trail’ and sample food and drink matching sessions, as well as enjoy free cooking demonstrations and masterclass workshops with some of the country’s top chefs.
Organiser and BID Chief Executive Phoebe Dawson said: “Worcester Food Festival celebrates all of the fantastic food and drink businesses that our city now boasts.”
The free festival is on between 10am-5.30pm on Friday and Saturday, June 8 and 9 and between 11am-4pm on Sunday, June 10.
The Next Worcester BID Traders meeting is taking place on Friday 3rd November at Pret A Manger.
The BID traders meeting is open to BID businesses and their associates based in the city centre. The meeting is being held on the 1st Floor, Pret A Manger, High Street at 8 am. If you have any queries or additional items you would like to a dd to the agenda please do not hesitate to contact us on 01905 731612 or email info@worcesterbid.com
The agenda for this meeting includes . . . .
Coaches, Training, Christmas opening hours – Hazel Shephard, Worcester BID
Christmas Campaign –Sam Murphy, Worcester BID and Adam Edney, 773c
We’re Backing Worcester Campaign and Small Business Saturday – Sam Murphy, Worcester BID and Phoebe Dawson, Worcester BID
Pret A Manger opens at 6.30 if you wish to arrive earlier to purchase breakfast/coffee before the meeting starts at 8am. Water will be available at the meeting.
The Worcester BID ‘Christmas in Worcester’ marketing campaign is in full swing and our partner’s local events are creating a festive cheer – the festive lights have been switched on, Father Christmas has arrived and the Victorian Christmas Fayre is now up and running. And there is plenty more coming up, so make sure your business is making most of it!
To help you plan your business’ activities, give you ideas for involvement, provide information about our BID marketing campaign and assist with a quick reference guide for all things ‘Christmas in Worcester’ we have prepared a dedicated page for businesses. Here you can also download the ‘Christmas in Worcester FAQ’ document, which was circulated at the BID Traders’ Meeting on 18th November.
Questions answered include:
Sat 3rd Dec
Small Business Saturday at independent city centre businesses (see details below)
Sat 3rd, 10th & 17th Dec & Sun 18th Dec
Face Painting at CrownGate Chapel Walk*
Sat 3rd Dec to Thur 5th Jan
Festival of Christmas Trees at Worcester Cathedral*
Mon 5th Dec to Sun 8th Jan
Cinderella at the Swan Theatre (£)
Thur 8th Dec
Lantern Parade from The Guildhall to the Hive*
Sun 18th Dec – Reindeers at CrownGate Chapel Walk*
Thur – Sun until 24th Dec (Christmas week also Mon to Wed) – Story Time with Father Christmas at CrownGate Friary Walk*
Daily until Sat 31st Dec – Nutcracker Trail at CrownGate Chapel & Friary Walk*
Mon – Sat until Sat 7th Jan – Crafted for You at Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum*
* Free events and activities. / £ = Ticketed event/admission fee applies.
For full schedule dates, locations and details visit
-the new one stop Christmas website for visitors, created in partnership between Worcester BID, Worcester City Council and CrownGate. The Story Time with Father Christmas and Nutcracker Trail are supported by Worcester BID.
Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities. The day itself takes place on the first Saturday in December each year, but the campaign aims to have a lasting impact on small businesses. In 2016 Small Business Saturday will take place on Saturday 3rd December.
Are there any opportunities to get involved in Small Business Saturday?
More resources can be found on (*) https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/
If you need some inspiration for activities, promotions and offers, take a look at the Totally Locally website:
Useful contacts to discuss your ideas:
Nadja von Dahlen-Andrews (Marketing & Events Manager, Worcester BID) – 01905 731612, nadja.vondahlen@worcesterbid.com
Janet Yates (Economic Development Officer, Worcester City Council) – 01905 722106, janet.yates@worcester.gov.uk
Dermot McGillicuddy (Director, LSD Promotions / Worcester City Markets) – 01384 877336, dermot@lsdpromotions.com
(This information was distributed at the Worcester BID Traders’ Meeting on 18th November and as an E-Bulletin on 25th November 2016)
Traders’ Meeting (Worcester BID E-Bulletin, 12/11/2016)
The next traders’ meeting takes place on Friday 18th November at 8am in Wildwood Kitchen (upstairs), in Chapel Walk, CrownGate. Representatives of any BID business is invited and tea, coffee and pastries are provided and it is all free. The agenda is as follows:
Please let us know if you or a colleague are planning to attend so that we can plan ahead for catering purposes. The meetings are popular so don’t miss out! Please email your confirmation to info@worcesterbid.com or call 01905 731612 option 3.
Kind regards
The Worcester BID team
Media release – 19/10/2016
A business run by two sisters in Reindeer Court is set to be in the national spotlight tomorrow (Friday) as they celebrate being voted one of the top 100 small businesses in the UK.
Embrace, a lingerie shop run by sisters Lisa Farrington-Martin & Paula Farrington has been named by Small Business Saturday UK as exemplar in the way they operate as an independent and will be showcased as such when they have their turn to celebrate SmallBiz100 day. Each of the 100 businesses chosen across the UK is spotlighted each day for 100 days up until Small Business Saturday on December 3rd.
As part of the celebrations they will be holding a ‘Fitting & Fizz’ day with Vicki Owen from Wacoal from 10am – 3pm and there will be 10% off all full priced lingerie or swimwear products purchased on the day!
The business is already used to accolades having scooped the prestigious Stars Underlines Best Shop Awards Winners in the Special Care Recognition Category last year and are already finalists ahead of this year’s announcement next month. They won the Customer Service Award for best independent retailer from Worcester BID earlier this year. They have also benefitted from grants from Worcester City Council along the way which have been described as ‘invaluable’.
Paula explained ‘we are delighted to have been recognised as one of the top 100 small businesses in the UK and we are keen to show people what we are all about. Tomorrow’s showcase provides us with an opportunity to highlight the business and also do our bit for promoting independent businesses in Reindeer Court and Worcester city centre itself.’
Head of Worcester BID, Adrian Field added ‘Embrace is a great example of how to run an independent business and we are delighted for them to have been selected for such an accolade as they fully deserve it.’
Lisa added ‘We encourage customers new and old to come along and enjoy some fizz while we fit you with some fabulous new lingerie!’
Places will be limited and bookings can be made by calling 01905 619031.
ENDS
To contact Embrace for further quotes or to arrange an interview please contact:
Lisa Farrington-Martin & Paula Farrington
23 Reindeer Court, Worcester, WR1 2DS
Tel: 01905 619031
Twitter: @connect_embrace
Facebook: facebook.com/embraceworcester
Awards that the business has won:
2014 Stars Underlines Best Shop Awards Finalists
2014 Worcester Customer Service Awards Highly Commended
2015 Awarded the Anita Centre of Excellence Certificate
2015 Stars Underlines Best Shop Awards Winners in the Special Care Recognition Category
2016 Worcester Customer Service Awards Winners in the Independent Retail Sector
2016 Announced as one of the Top 100 UK Small Businesses for Small Business Saturday
2016 Stars Underlines Best Shop Awards Finalists (final in Nov 2016)
Grants:
Worcester City Business Start up Grant
Worcester City Council Business Growth Grant
A brand new campaign which aims to promote fashion, health and wellbeing in Worcester’s businesses is set to be launched with members of the public able to sample a huge variety of themed activities. The new ‘Aspire Worcester’ campaign coordinated by the Worcester Business Improvement District (BID) will encompass a plethora of quality fashion and wellbeing themed products, services and activities within Worcester’s independently owned businesses and big High Street names from this Thursday (8th) to Sunday 11th September. Among the activities taking place, locals and visitors can indulge in a beauty makeover, enjoy a relaxing hand massage, make their own bath bombs or join an exclusive night of pampering and fizz. Free wellbeing themed activities include laughter yoga and tai chi sessions, lunchtime de-stressers and relaxation sessions. There are also family friendly bounce and rhyme sessions available, plus CV and interview advice and a dedicated home and lifestyle event to look at the entire family’s wellbeing in a wider picture. The latest style and designer trends can be discovered at four exciting fashion shows being organised by House of Fraser, Stripes, Topshop/Topman, and Sophie Wynne-Owen as well as selected partners. Healthier choices food and drink sampling and mocktail making are also on the menu in a bid to encourage a healthier lifestyle. City centre visitors can also benefit from free health MOTs, step tests, running gait analysis or guided health walks. For those feeling energetic there will also be a climbing wall being run by the Army Careers Service, the opportunity to try a judo class, and to climb the Cathedral Tower. A variety of free activities and workshops are available themed around outfit building, how to build a capsule wardrobe, take a body shape analysis and learn how to style a stole. There is also the chance to enter the vintage hair stylist experience competition and join a fittings and fizz session. Nadja von Dahlen, Worcester BID Marketing and Events Manager, said “The new Aspire Worcester campaign is a great opportunity for locals and visitors to sample and embrace the great mix of fashion, beauty, health and wellbeing themed offers and activities within our city centre businesses. The majority of events are also free to attend. Worcester city centre offers a vibrant shopping experience with an exceptional selection of independent shops and boutiques, major retailers and service providers who are involved in fashion, health and wellbeing, and so we wanted to celebrate this. The campaign with its associated events is a bit different to the Foodie and Motor Festivals that we organise in that it is the businesses who are laying on the activities in-store”. Pervin Chaudhury, Deputy Sales Manager at House of Fraser added “We couldn’t not get involved in the Worcester BID’s Aspire event and campaign, as it provides us with an opportunity to showcase what House of Fraser can offer in terms of fashion, health and wellbeing to our existing as well as new customers. We have activities taking place on all 4 days which we think people will love to experience.” The Aspire Worcester events and activities will be taking place within Worcester city centre businesses from Thursday 8th to Sunday 11th September. Further details are available on www.aspireworcester.com, on twitter @AspireWorcester or at www.facebook.com/aspireworcester Published 06/09/2016ALL YOU NEED TO FEEL GOOD AND LOOK GOOD
Food lovers will be in for a treat when the popular Worcester Foodie Festival returns to the city centre.
The free event which runs from Friday 29th to Sunday 31st July has been organised by Worcester BID and promises to be even bigger and better than last year. It includes an additional event day, over 70 stalls offering delicious food and drink from local businesses and selected specialist producers, as well as food and drink matching sessions, cookery demonstrations and master class workshops by a variety of well-established chefs.
Dean Edwards will be headlining the festival’s main stage in High Street on the Saturday. His family friendly cooking style has made him a firm favourite on ITV’s ‘Lorraine’ and he is the author of two cookery books ‘Mincepiration’ and ‘Feel Good Family Food’. Visitors are encouraged to get their cookery books signed after the demonstrations on Saturday. Dean’s ethos on food is that it should be achievable, simple and above all taste fantastic. “Food doesn’t have to be complicated, and I am keen to show the visitors to the Foodie Festival that simplicity is just as effective” he says.
Worcestershire based Fusion Brasserie chef Felice Tocchini will also be demonstrating a range of al fresco dining and tasty Italian recipes on the main stage throughout the event. He said, “I am looking forward to showcasing some of the best local products in our region at the Foodie Festival”. Amongst other dishes he will also be showing visitors how to make his delicious summer pudding with basil and chocolate.
Another attendee is Richard Fox who is renowned for cooking with beer as well as creating gourmet beer and food matches, but his other great passion is on the subject of reducing our food waste by performing cooking demonstrations on the theme of ‘Love Food, Hate Waste’. Richard’s exuberant and entertaining demonstrations take place on each of the 3 days.
Visitors are invited to join one of the free food and drink matching sessions at the masterclass area in front of the Guildhall and learn more about pairing different cheeses with beer, wine and cider. As part of the sessions cheese experts Martin Mills and Roy McDonald will also be introducing you to ‘smorging’ – an indulgent grazing style of eating based on the Scandinavian Smørgåsbord – allowing visitors discover new tasty ways of eating their favourite cheeses. Richard Everton from New Street based Bottles Wine Bar & Merchants and the Cornmarket Deli team will also be advising on great food and drink matches.
With exciting food experiments and fun kids cookery workshops sponsored by TESCO Worcester at CrownGate’s Bell Square/Chapel Walk, youngsters will also enjoy their visit to the Worcester Foodie Festival. Quirky food experiments including exploding rockets, edible slime and fizzy mocktails, as well as fun pasta making and baking sessions. There will also be free face painting and a kids colouring competition.
The Foodie Festival will also feature some great new roving street entertainment with the ‘Cheesy Rider’ comedy chefs and their quirky cocktail bar, plus fun GYO gardeners on stilts. Live music will be provided by a variety of talented local musicians, as well as festival favourites Worcester Ukulele Club and the Worcester Concert Brass.
Foodies can also tantalise their taste buds at Worcester’s 150+ quality local restaurants, cosy cafés, stylish bars and traditional pubs. Leave the cooking and washing up to someone else and venture out to try special offer menus and take advantage of sampling opportunities. Further food and drink themed activities, trails, competitions and more will be laid out for all to enjoy at participating local businesses.
Nadja von Dahlen, Worcester BID Marketing & Events Manager, said “The Worcester Foodie Festival is a great opportunity for people to discover and experience our fantastic city centre food and drink outlets, whether it’s by visiting the street stalls or venturing into businesses for a tasty treat. Who doesn’t want to leave the cooking and washing up to someone else – and get the chance to see famous chefs like Dean Edwards sharing his cookery secrets with us?”
The event will be taking place throughout the pedestrianised city centre from 10am to 5.30pm on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th July and from 11am to 4pm on Sunday 31st July. Admission is free. For further details visit www.worcesterfoodiefestival.com, follow @WorcFoodieFest on twitter or at www.facebook.com/FoodieWorcester.
Published 14/07/2016
This year’s free event on Saturday 14th May sees fun activities including a Pit Stop Challenge in Reindeer Court and the Army Careers Service climbing wall in the Cornmarket. Established favourites include around 40 of the latest dealership cars from 15 manufacturers and a trip down memory lane will be delighting visitors when viewing more than 100 rare historic vehicles from the 1920s to the 1970s displayed throughout the city centre. Visitors can also expect to see retro street rods, a selection of historic motorcycles and even a prototype beach car used by the Queen at Windsor. Internationally renowned artist Ian Cook from PopbangColour will be returning to Worcester to demonstrate how to paint quirky pictures using remote-controlled cars and display his specially wrapped Morgan 3-wheeler #3WheelArt. Visitors can even test their own racing skills and challenge their friends to a race at the Scalextric racetrack in Broad Street and the popular F1 simulator in CrownGate’s Chapel Walk. Interactive feature and community displays by West Mercia Police and Hereford & Worcester Fire & Rescue Service will are set to prove a hit with visitors. There will also be a selection of Harley Davidson’s courtesy of Heart of Worcestershire College, who are also running the Festival at the Fountains on South Quay, only a few minutes’ walk from the Worcester Motor Festival. Kids will also love their day at the Motor Festival with free face painting, a car trail, PopbangColour workshops and colouring competitions. The Motor Festival entertainment programme features walkabout racing drivers on stilts, traditional dance performances and live music by local bands and musicians will be adding to the vibrant atmosphere. This free city centre event organised in partnership between the Worcester News and Worcester Business Improvement District (BID) will also involve a whole host of in-store activities, special offers, street stalls and displays by local businesses throughout the shopping area. Nadja von Dahlen, Worcester BID Marketing and Events Manager, said “The Motor Festival has become a firm fixture in Worcester’s busy event calendar, going from strength to strength and attracting thousands of new and repeat visitors every year. The event started in 2007 as an on street dealership car display in High Street. Over the years we have started to invite classic cars, which now feature in 12 streets throughout the city centre! Expanding the lively entertainment programme, providing a platform for local performers to showcase their talent, and increased involvement by many local city centre businesses has led to a further growth of this exciting event.” More than 40 independent and national businesses are embracing the theme of the event this year. There is plenty to see and do for kids and grown-ups from toy car racing and craft workshops to prize draws and interactive games in local businesses. People can even find out about the driving jobs, latest motor insurance deals, and engineering courses when visiting the event. 23 businesses are also competing for the prize for the best dressed window with a motoring theme. Visitors are encouraged to cast their vote to support their favourite businesses to be in for a chance to win £50 to spend at a participating business. Details will be published in the Worcester News on 12th May. For further information explore www.worcestermotorfestival.com, or follow the event on Facebook and Twitter @WorcMotorFest. The event runs from 9am until 5pm on Saturday 14th May.
Worcester is set to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the ever popular Motor Festival in a few week’s time with the announcement of some new motoring themed activities.
A Power Maxed BTCC car and a selection of special Shelsley Walsh single seater race cars will be showcased in High Street. Visitors should not miss the opportunity to see the Empire Wraith driven by Guy Martin as he prepared to tackle Pikes Peak in 2014.
Customer service levels in Worcester city centre are on the rise and that’s official!
Last night’s Worcester BID Customer Service Awards saw numerous businesses scoop prizes after signing up to mystery shopping exercises and perhaps surprisingly to some, a bank came away as the overall winner. The Royal Bank Of Scotland (Future Williams and Glyn), based in St. Nicholas Street won the professional services prize and the Business of the Year with a perfect 100%.
116 assessments or mystery shopping exercises as they are more commonly known were undertaken on willing businesses in the city centre. This is the fifth time that the awards have been delivered by Worcester BID and 100 city centre employees attended the event in the Guildhall.
The winning business’ branch Bank Manager, Jennifer Butler said ‘We are delighted with the result and to be acknowledged for delivering excellent customer service. As a team we pride ourselves on how well we help our customers, both new and existing. This award highlights how important customer service is, and how we at the Worcester Branch aim to deliver high standards on a daily basis.’
The results showed that performances for Worcester’s businesses in retail and email were improving and that overall the city continued to perform very strongly. Food and drink outlets were also praised for their work on greeting customers on arrival, the quality of the food and the professional conduct and standards of dress for their staff.
Category winners on the night were:
‘The results have once again been excellent and are something that we should be very proud of in Worcester as our clients and customers do appreciate it and it undoubtedly leads to better trade’ added Head of Worcester BID Adrian Field. ‘We had 14 perfect scores out of the 116 assessments undertaken and so the winning businesses have performed extremely well.‘
Another winner, Paula Farrington, owner of Embrace Boutique in Reindeer Court and winner of the independent retailer award said ‘we are delighted with the result and it is great that the BID acknowledges the importance of customer service to ensure that the experience of shoppers is positive when in the city.’
Richard Apparicio-Davies, owner of Apparicio based in Pump Street who won the Health and Well Being category winners was equally delighted ‘I am really pleased for the team here who make sure that our customers feel as though they are the most important people in the world when they visit us. This is a great boost for the business and the awards are very positive for Worcester generally’.
