PLACEThe finest eloquence is that which gets things done

WWW.REVIVEANDTHRIVE.CO.UKREVIVEANDTHRIVE@REVIVE_THRIVE

FOR TOWNS AND CITIES

#23

+ BLACHERE COMPETITION DEADLINE+ New Place Management Jobs+ New Revive & Thrive Networking Events+ Placemaking News from Across the UK+ Advice from Expert Bloggers

illumination inspired

http://www.winterlighting.co.uk

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REVIVE & THRIVE’S

What’s In

Memberships 2016

Editor in ChiefMatthew Powell

WWW.REVIVEANDTHRIVE.CO.UKTel: 03330 124285

Edition #23

Assistant EditorMark Barnes

Creative & DesignStephen Blackwell

REVIVEANDTHRIVE@REVIVE_THRIVE

© 2018 Revive & Thrive

BLOG: Alison Bowcott-McGrath

BLOG: Ronnie Brown

BLOG: Polly Barnfield

BLOG: Keith Jackson

BLOG: Edward Webster

5. Blog: Ronnie Brown

6. Blog: Alison Bowcott-McGrath

7. High Street Gamers’ Emporium Wins Top Marks From Swansea BID’s Extra Mile Awards

8. The Impact of Customer Returns on UK Retailers

10. The Annual Blachere Christmas Light Competition is Back!!

15. New branding for Worcester unveiled at tourism show

16. Whitchurch Regional Event Testimonials

17. Shirley businesses begin voting on BID for Stratford Road

18. Revive & Thrive Regional Networking Event, Derbyshire

20. Safe Spaces in the Night Time economy

21. Montgomeryshire Literary Festival

23. Blog: Keith Jackson

24. Why Choose Revive & Thrive for your Business Improvement District Feasibility Study?

27. 31 retailers go head-to-head in 2018 Chesterfield Retail Awards

28. Business Improvement District Services – 5 stages

31. Become a Regional Advisor

32. Caldicot Town Team

33. Blog: Polly Barnfield

34. Swadlincote: The National Forest

37. Come one, come all! Chippenham Carnival is back for 2018

37. Cost Reduction Scheme Launch for Chippenham Businesses

38. Blog: Edward Webster

39. Rebuttal from the Charity Retail Association

40. Journey Down the Rabbit Hole at Metropole’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ Market

41. Business Development Director joins the Coastal Business Improvement District

41. Volunteers Get Stuck In with Big Bournemouth Clean Up

43. Northwich BID launch new website

43. Northwich to be in bloom this summer

46. Town Centre BID – Bubble Tea Café Owner Shares Secrets of Success

47. Colmore BID consults members about a third term for Birmingham’s Business District

Blachere Christmas Competition

I almost feel like beginning this month by wishing everybody a Happy Christmas! There is a distinctly festive feel to issue 23 of Place as we rapidly approach the closing date for this year’s Christmas lights competition, sponsored by Blachere Illumination.

But, as you will see from Ronnie Brown’s blog on page 5, and as I’m sure many of you are well aware, Christmas is a year-round event in the world of place management!

Due to the impending Bank Holiday weekend, we have decided to extend the closing date by a week, but that still means you only have just over a week to get your entries in. It’s well worth the effort of an hour or so’s work as our many winners from previous years will attest to.

Elsewhere this month, we have more seasonally-appropriate stories from around the country and a very interesting debate from two parties on either side of the Charity Retail fence – we would be very interested to hear your views and opinions on this, so please do drop us a line with your thoughts.

We also have some great feedback from our recent regional networking event in Whitchurch and early news about forthcoming events around the country – these will shape up over the coming weeks and months thanks to the really good news that Revive & Thrive is welcoming a new member of staff into the team. Claire Holmes joins the company at the start of June as Marketing, Events and Membership Manager and both Mark and I are looking forward to working with her – welcome aboard, Claire!

Enjoy this month’s magazine and, as ever, please do let us know what’s going on in your place.

Matt Powell

Revive & Thrive Director E: matthew@reviveandthrive.co.uk Telephone: 03330 124285

A WORD PLEASE

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PLACE FOR TOWNS AND CITIES

Do I hire my Christmas lights and decorations, or do I buy them? This is a question we get asked regularly. The answer lies in your circumstances. Your budget, length of term, your overall lighting strategy, your individual Christmas strategy, your marketing strategy, your infrastructure. And you thought you were only sourcing Christmas lights.

Hiring is an excellent way to make your budget go further. For example, as a rule of thumb, if you have a budget for product of £3,500 per year for 3 years then typically you can get £10,000 worth

of product in year one. You also may be able to change some or all of the decorations in years two and three. This will depend on the contract you can agree with your provider.

If it is the case that you have a £10,000 budget and are unsure of further capital purchases in the coming years then purchase is probably the path to take. If extra funds do become available in subsequent years then you can add to your Christmas lights stock with further purchases. Please be aware that the figures we are talking about are for the product only. You will need a budget for installation, removal, storage and maintenance. I will go into more detail about installation in a future blog.Your provider should be able to help you solve the puzzle “hire or purchase”.

If you have any questions re the above, or any Christmas Lighting, Decorative lighting or Theming. Please email me r.brown@blachere-illumination.co.uk or visit our website www.blachere-illumination.co.uk

Hire Verses Purchase

Ronnie Brown

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How to choose the right awards for youWith so many awards options out there, it can be a tough decision choosing which one (or more) to enter. My advice is to do the research, check back over past winners and see if theirs is the company you want to keep. Ask your team and your clients what their perceptions are and, if the fit matches, then go for it.

Be prepared for what is often a lengthy, expensive, resource-heavy, incredibly detailed process that the more cynical amongst us might even suggest are a money-making scheme for the organisers. Time is precious in a business and sometimes writing entries can be all-consuming but you have to be in it, to win it.

No pain. No gain!

I’m an advocate of awards because, whatever your view, they can be an important asset for your business. Any kind of recognition is an endorsement; simply being shortlisted offers a new level of credibility and can be helpful in positioning your business as an industry leader. It also shows a certain work ethic and dedication that’s reassuring to your clients, reinforcing their loyalty.

Winning and bringing home the trophy bling is next level stuff. It raises awareness of your business brand and sets you apart from the competition. It’s a clear message to everyone that your business delivers award-winning

goods and/or services. This new-found visibility is attractive to clients, new business leads, and potential investment opportunities.

Approval, reward and recognition from your peers are also a massive morale boost for the team and goes a long way in retaining and attracting the best new employee talent. Attending the ceremonies as a team is a fantastic way to bring everyone together to recognise and reward their collective contribution to making your business a success. Who doesn’t love letting their hair down and celebrating their achievements at a glitzy evening ceremony? Trust me, those events are 10 times better if you win!

Winning feels great!

Last week my events agency, Maynineteen scooped The Drum’s Recommended Agency Register (RAR+) Award for combined services in the events category. To say we were delighted is an understatement. We were the show’s underdogs for sure, nominated alongside some big-name agencies that offer fully integrated services, of which events are often only a small part. But for us, live events and experiences are everything, that’s what we do, it’s all we do, so to get recognition from our clients feels great!The RAR+ nominations are determined by the number of client recommendations an agency receives, all of which are made anonymously. It’s a nerve-racking business waiting to see how your customers rate your services

and where you appear in the final ranking. But we did it, and it’s all thanks to our amazing clients who empower us to take risks and deliver consistently creative experiences.

Over the years we have taken great pleasure in watching our events help our clients to win lots of Purple Apple Marketing Awards, but we have never before independently entered any awards in our own industry until this year. Responsible for five shortlisted events submitted by our clients at the awards, we also had one of our own nominated. Viva Las Riverside at The Oracle, Reading might not have won this year, but our name is on everyone’s lips and that kind of publicity is priceless.

Go for gold

It’s been a hell of a journey but one that’s paid off so if you’re thinking about entering your business into an award I say, “Go for it!” You’ll get a taste for it like we have and before you know it you’ll be building a trophy cabinet. Alison Bowcott-McGrathFounder and Managing Director

PinPointer UK and MAYNINETEEN Ltd

Building 8, Exchange Quay, Salford, Greater Manchester, M5 3EJE: alison@pinpointer.uk T: 0161 850 1400 M: 07870 176949

Awards Are Good For Business

Alison Bowcott-McGrath

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High Street Gamers’ Emporium Wins Top Marks From Swansea BID’s Extra Mile AwardsA popular Swansea City Centre business has been recognised for its outstanding customer care by being named the winner of the first Swansea BID Extra Mile Award. Our quarterly Extra Mile Awards will reward business of all kinds throughout the Swansea BID area whose staff go the extra mile to keep their customers and clients happy, with the winning business chosen by the BID team based upon positive customer reviews and feedback, and the observations of the BID team itself. Simon Kendrick, who owns The Gamers’ Emporium, in Swansea High Street, which has been operating in the city for five years, says: “I’m delighted to be the first recipient of the Swansea BID Extra Mile Award and I’m proud of all of the staff here at The Gamers’ Emporium who work hard to keep our customers happy.

“These aren’t easy times for high street businesses of any kind, and I feel very strongly that providing consistently friendly service and doing that bit extra to give customers a complete experience, beyond simply making a transaction, is one of the keys to making our high streets and City Centres resilient. “Here at The Gamers’ Emporium we don’t just offer unique products, we also hold very frequent events and gatherings for gamers, so we have helped to create a real community, not just a customer base. It is nice to know that what we do is appreciated by those who use The Gamers’ Emporium, and I’m grateful to Swansea BID for recognising the work we put in.” Projects Manager at Swansea BID, Amelia Rudman, said: “I’m delighted to see Simon and his team win the first Extra Mile Award and it is very well deserved. The Gamers’ Emporium is a

real fixture in the Swansea City Centre landscape and a great example of the thriving, unique independent businesses we have here in Swansea City Centre. “One of the reasons Swansea BID launched the Extra Mile Awards is that we are acutely aware of the importance accentuating the many positives to be found here in Swansea City Centre – not just around the much-talked about regeneration, but also to be found behind the doors of so many of our BID area business who work hard, day in and day out, to keep the City Centre vibrant.” The winning businesses will receive a rosette, window sticker and website artwork so they can shout about their great customer service, and they will be profiled on the Swansea BID’s website. To nominate a Swansea City Centre business for the next Extra Mile Award, email: Amelia@swanseabid.co.uk so they can be considered.

The Impact of Customer Returns on UK Retailers

57% of retailers in the UK have experienced negative effects because of the growing amount of people that are quick to return items they’ve bought online.Retail independents and SMEs in particular can struggle with various aspects of customer returns, all of which can impact negatively on revenues and business operations. The main reasons for this trend are: increased online sales, customers abusing return policies, costs of processing returns and large chains who offer free returns putting pressure on SMEs to match that in order to stay competitive.

Return statistics

Barclaycard research recently highlighted in the Guardian showed that 57% of retailers in the UK experience negative effects because of the growing amount of people that return the items they bought online: “Online-only businesses were hit the hardest, with 31% saying that managing returns was affecting their profit margins. One in five businesses admitted to upping their prices to cover the cost of returns”. Additionally, 52% of SMEs admits that dealing with returns negatively affects the day-to-day running of their company and they said they’re “often left looking for ways to make up the revenue difference.”

 Additional stats from Barclaycard show that in the last year an increasing amount of returns has created numerous challenges for online retailers, with 31% saying that handling the returns actually impacts on their profit margin.

Moreover, 30% of online shoppers admit that they “deliberately over-purchase and subsequently return unwanted items”, with 19% saying they are guilty of “ordering multiple versions of the same item to make up their mind at home — safe in the knowledge they can choose from the ever-growing number of ways to quickly and easily send items back, such as hourly courier services and local drop-off points.”

Small retailers opting not to sell online

The problem of unsustainable costs has reached such proportions for SMEs that some small businesses are stepping away from offering their items online. According to Barclaycard, 22% of small retailers that hold bricks and mortar stores have decided not to sell online as they are too concerned about how they would handle the costs of dealing with returns.

Not accepting returns

According to Armstrong Watson, some retailers are introducing a no-return policy where they are “offering price

The Impact of Customer Returns on UK Retailers

reductions in lieu of their return rights,” in order not to be faced with managing returns and their associated costs.

Agreements with suppliers

 Russell Grant, an SME consultant at online support network Business Doctors, recently told The Telegraph that by creating a proper agreement with suppliers, handling returns can turn into an effective process: “That means a commitment to compensate the business for all costs, including the product, transport, labour, admin and so on — [anything] associated with the return of products that they have supplied. This will enable SMEs to act quickly in the full knowledge that they will be fairly compensated by their supplier.” On top of that, Grant insists that SMEs should be able to offer return policies that are very clear and based on research. Additionally, having the proper resources required to deliver returns is very important, which of course includes logistics and customer service.

Wise use of data

The rise of serial returners has led some smaller retailers to target these customers in order to avoid their further purchases and minimize their own financial damage. Derek O’Carroll, chief executive of retail management platform Brightpearl, suggested to The Telegraph

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that SMEs explore their “existing sales data to pinpoint customers with a greater propensity to return items, and avoid targeting them with marketing promotions or discounts”.

Additionally, data can also be analysed to understand what products have higher return rates and see if prices can be raised on these products, stop marketing efforts involving these products, or even stop selling them all together. This can have the additional bonus of improving customer satisfaction and brand perception.

Finding satisfactory solutions by communicating with customers

 Andrew James, a UK homeware brand, noted that dealing with returns demands maintaining a healthy relationship with customers. Graeme Coyle, the company’s marketing manager, explained that the business recently changed its returns policy in order to lower the number of people who regularly send back products, and the return process “now challenges them more vigorously about the nature of their returns.”

Coyle adds: “Now we request proof that the item, if electrical, has had the power cord cut, so it’s unable to be used again. Only then will we issue the refund or replacement.” Additionally, the brand listens to customers who are not satisfied with this process and tries to find a solution that can be satisfying for everybody: “To ensure repeat custom, shoppers should be happy with

any contact that they’ve had with the company — and feel confident about buying again”.

Case of Black Friday

The runaway phenomenon that is Black Friday has exacerbated the problem of returns.  Experian-IMRG reported that UK retailers could incur costs of £180 million from consumers returning items they purchased through Black Friday sales, as almost 40% of all items bought online during the sale period are returned. In 2016, a staggering £1.23 billion was spent on online purchases in the UK during the Black Friday period.

How to lower the return rate

 Small and medium online businesses are always looking for ways to lower the return rate. According to Barclaycard, 38% of online shoppers said they would send back fewer items if businesses were offering standardized clothing and shoe sizes, which still vary a lot between different retailers.

Additionally, 18% acknowledged that if businesses offer “a better in-store experience, such as shortened queues for fitting rooms so they can try on sizes without the wait”, this would also reduce the overall number of items they return as some people come to try on clothes before going online and purchasing them. 18% also proposed that retailers “introduce technology to help them better visualize an item when shopping online, such as the ability to ‘try on’ clothing after uploading an image of themselves”.

Conclusion

 57% of retailers in the UK experience negative effects because of the growing amount of people that return the items they buy online. 31% of SMEs admitted that handling the returns actually impacted their profit margin. Retailers can deal with this by opting not to sell online, not accepting returns and instead offering price reductions, strengthening their agreements with suppliers, analysing data to understand what customers return the most and what products are returned most often, and restricting rules for what is accepted as a return.

Research for this article was provided by askwonder.com.

Author: Rob Gamage

Rob Gamage is Managing Editor of Modern Retail. Combining many years of experience in publishing with a keen interest in small business and entrepreneurialism, Rob is passionate about sharing interesting and inspiring content with retailers to help them grow.

Modern Retail is a free information resource full of advice & inspiration to help retailers grow. Whether you’re just setting up in business, or you’re an establisher retailer, there is content for everyone. Topics covered include store design and visual merchandising, ecommerce, marketing, EPOS and more.

You can subscribe to Modern Retail, for free, here.

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PLACE FOR TOWNS AND CITIES

The Blachere Christmas Light Competition is becoming as much loved as the festive period itself.

First meet the Christmas Light Competition 2017

winners.

In 2017 it was Ilfracombe that walked away with the top prize of £10,000 of Christmas Lights with Rye coming a close second. and leaving with £2,000 of lights.

The runners up, who all won £1000 worth of Christmas Lights, were –

• Kidsgrove Town Centre CIC• Liskeard Lights Up• Gravesend Borough Market• Lancaster BID Ltd• Worcester City Council• Congleton Town Council – Christmas

Crackers Group

• Stratford Original BID• Mansfield District Council

The two towns battling out for the special Welsh prize were –

• Newtown• Ebbw Vale

They both left with £1000 of Christmas Tree Lights.

Thanks to Blachere Illumination there is

another £20,000 worth of lights to win this summer!

Who can enter –Anyone can enter.

As a resident or local business, why not enter on behalf of your town centre?

The Annual Blachere Christmas Light Competition is Back!!

Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), Councils, Town Teams or Business Groups/Chamber of Trades are all organisations that we anticipate will be taking part.

Like Revive & Thrive, this competition is ‘for all people passionate about place’

The prizes –First prize – £10,000 worth of Christmas Lights

Second prize – £2,000 worth of Christmas Lights

Plus – eight runner up prizes of £1,000 each

Registering intent below also provides the option for a 15% discount off of Revive & Thrive Membership.

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Key dates –• Launch date – 9th March 2018• Applications close – 7th June 2018• Notify shortlisted candidates – 12th

June 2018• Final – Last week of June at a venue

in London tbc

The questions –What are your plans for marketing your Christmas Lights switch on event and how can you ensure maximum attendance? Be as innovative as possible

Max 500 words (25% scoring)

What strategies and plans do you have for making the most of the lights whilst they are on and in place? I.e what additional reasons can you think of to bring people into the centre beyond the Switch On event?

Max 500 words (25% scoring)

Looking back, previouly what has worked and what did not work during the weeks that the lights were on? What key successes have you learnt from and how

have you or will you build on these this year and next?

Max 500 words (12.5% scoring)

During this extended period of austerity, justify the need for or value of Christmas lights? What is the return on investment (ROI)? Please don’t restrict to just financial ROI. Address this response as if addressing a critical resident or business.

Max 500 words (25% scoring)

There are several case studies on Blachere’s website, see www.blachere-illumination.co.uk. Out of these, please select the one that you think is most inspirational and delivered the greatest results and explain why. Don’t let budget of the client affect your answer either positively or negatively.OrWrite a case study about one of the installations that you either enjoyed in your centre or in another town centre. Consider if this installation went beyond aesthetics and whether it actually delivered positive results for local businesses and the local economy.

Max 500 words (12.5% scoring)

What next –Initially register intent via the form here to ensure that you receive updates and hints and tips. We will also email you terms and conditions.

The competition will be extremely simple to enter taking as little as an hour to complete and we intend that you might get value from following the process.

Simply answer the questions in any format that you require and provide any supporting files and email to mark@reviveandthrive.co.uk by the deadline above. At least ten finalists will be invited to give a very brief presentation at a venue to be confirmed in London.

Register Now

I would say that the lights that we won made a big

difference to our town. There was a lot of interest in our

cross street Nadelik Lowen sign and it made a great

entrance into the town and the area where the Christmas

lights were on display.

The competition is very straight forward to enter and

whilst the trip to Blackpool was a long distance for us,

we were able to stay with relatives nearby which made it

feasible to attend. The tour around the Blackpool Lights

store was marvellous and it was that, combined with the

venue being close to relatives, that encouraged me to apply.

I have now made two presentations to your judges, and am

so pleased that we have been shortlisted twice and been able

to use the prizes to add to our Christmas lighting stock in

Liskeard.

Jenny Foster,

Liskerret Community Centre, L

iskeard

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PLACE FOR TOWNS AND CITIES

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REVIVE & THRIVE’S

MScPLACE MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIPDO YOU WANT TO FURTHER YOUR CAREER IN PLACE MANAGEMENT?

Our unique postgraduate programme draws exclusively from the body of research undertaken at Manchester Metropolitan University and the Institute of Place Management. The course has been designed around the worldwide professional standards developed by the Institute of Place Management to support those that are already in, or wish to move into, a strategic role in place management - including CEOs and Directors of Business Improvement Districts.

A blended learning delivery model is adopted. Each unit is delivered through a three-day blocks of master classes, followed by distance learning and tutor support.

“I had been a place manager for 10 years, I thought I know a lot about the industry, but realised there were big gaps in my knowledge. The course allowed me to feel more confident in terms of not only what I was saying about place management - but also how to do it well” - Simon Quin MSc Graduate

COURSE DETAILS

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: UK hons degree (minimum 2:2), significant industry experience or degree-equivalent qualification. Entrants must also be a member of IPM

START DATE: September 2018

DURATION: MSc (24 Months), PGDip (18 Months), PGCert (9 Months)

Click here for more information about our course

@placemanagement placemanagement.org /iplacemanagement

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PLACE FOR TOWNS AND CITIES

Membership 2018

The only UK nationwide membership organisation for BIDs and all places. Our distinct memberships you will have free and easy access to all Revive & Thrive events and competitions and information and advice on policy, we are your one stop place shop.

Benefits include: FREE entry to all our events, campaigns and conferences

• National and regional networking events covering issues and policy affecting your place• A single voice to lobby for positive change nationally• Unlimited access to Revive & Thrive’s Non-Exectutive Board, steering Group, Regional Advisors and Expert Panel• Exclusive member only updates• Promote your place and BID by writing free articles for monthly Place magazine• Updates on the latest technologies and solutions for places• Discounts and special offers from our Place Solution Members• Place Magazine: Up to 50% discounts on advertising in Place Magazine• Recruitment Service: Target your advert specifically at experienced place management and Business

Improvement District professionals• You will benefit from unlimited access to Revive & Thrive Advisory Service

PricesPlace Magazine Subscription Plus – Free

Place Revive & Thrive Membership – £295 + vat per annum

Revive & Thrive Associate Membership – £135 + vat per annum

Business Group membership – £495 per annum

Sponsorship (previously Corporate Advocate) – £295 per month or £3000 per annum

To meet demand and upon request, we have added a new tier of membership for places with a population of less than 15,000. Smaller Places Membership is ony £175+vat and also offers free access to events.

Visit www.reviveandthrive.co.uk for more information

JOINTODAY

www.reviveandthrive.co.uk

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REVIVE & THRIVE’S

fresh ideas

New branding designed to strengthen Worcester’s identity as a tourist destination has been unveiled at this month’s British Tourism & Travel Show.

Developed in partnership with Worcester BID, the brand is based on Edgar Tower, the historic landmark that sits between the Cathedral and King’s School.

The new brand carries the tagline “Cultural City, Historic Heart” – focussing on two of our city’s big selling points for visitors.

The branding will feature strongly on the new VisitWorcester.co.uk website, set to launch in April.

“The new brand went down really well at the British Tourism & Travel Show,”

said Economic Development Officer Helen Mole.

“It caught the eye of lots of domestic travel industry professionals including tour operators, group travel organisers, travel agents and coach companies. That gave us a great chance to answer questions about our city, promote attractions and encourage people to add Worcester to their itineraries as part of their tours of the UK.”

It is the first time that Worcester City Council has exhibited at the British Tourism & Travel Show (www.tourismshow.co.uk) - the UK’s largest annual event for the tourism industry, held at the Birmingham NEC on 21 and 22 March 2018.

Worcester City Council’s team spoke to

New branding for Worcester unveiled at tourism show

many group travel organisers over the course of the two-day event, which was attended by over 2,800 people.

From 1 April Worcester City Council will take over responsibility for promoting and marketing the city as a tourist destination.

Since 2013 Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce has held the tourism contract, but last year City Council members agreed to bring it back in-house.

The Tourist Information Centre (TIC) at the Guildhall will also come under the management of the City Council from 1 April, and will play a central role in bringing more tourists into the city.

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fresh ideas

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REVIVE & THRIVE’S

Wendy Benson, Community Economic Development Manager, Durham County Council

What a great day…

Despite battling against the elements from County Durham (170 miles in the driving rain), I really benefited from attending.

The agenda was varied, with some interaction sessions breaking up the presentations, well planned Matt (Powell)

My day is summed up here:• Simon Quin presented IPM’s latest

research findings, the factors of influence and the 4 R’s of regeneration, was inspiring;

• The activities being delivered at a local level, across Whitchurch, were varied and presented with passion by Zoe;

• A role play scenario by Jeremy of City Dressing, very funny, but did get across how easy it is to get Marketing wrong;

• An interesting panel session

exploring different place making ‘delivery models’; and to finish off,

• A very motivational presentation from Nicola of Wornbyus.com

I met some enthusiastic people and organisations, and like me, they are committed to work to improve our town’s vitality in hope of sustainability.When is the next one????

Jeremy Rucker, City Dressing

Revive and Thrive regional events offer the best of both worlds. Nationally renowned speakers that give inspiring presentations at an event on your door step. Each event looks at local issues and strives to find solutions with presentations, workshops and interactive events. The event today at Whitchurch encapsulated this approach with engaging forums that helped get to the heart of some of the challenges of managing market towns.

Rhiannon-Jane Raftery

Thank you Mark and Matt for organising such an excellent event, it was an

Whitchurch Regional Event Testimonialsexcellent day, an excellent combination of presentations combined with a real town to observe and learn about,The venue worked well and we even had some sunshine for the lunchtime town audit!,, Please also pass on my thanks to Zoe and Co., from Whitchurch for their interest and enthusiasm sharing valuable experience.

I found it an inspiring and informative day and went away with fresh motivation and energy to focus on the market towns initiative.

I’d recommend all place enthusiasts, whatever their background or specific interest area attending any future events

Zoë Dean

Thank you very much once again on behalf of Whitchurch Town Council, and myself, for bringing such a rewarding regional meeting to our venue. The feedback received on the day demonstrated that is was an excellent event which delegates found to be useful. It was a great to see some familiar faces and also to meet a range of new contacts.

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PLACE FOR TOWNS AND CITIES

Shirley businesses have begun voting on whether to introduce a Business Improvement District for the Stratford Road corridor, which will bring an additional £550,000 investment in the area over five years.

The Business Improvement District (BID) ballot process started on Wednesday, April 25, when papers were posted to businesses along with a copy of the Business Plan and a reply-paid envelope to use when casting their vote.

A BID is a business-led and business-funded body formed to improve a defined commercial area. BIDs are governed by the businesses who represent the BID area, which would mean that local business people have a genuine voice to decide and direct what they want for Shirley.

An independent survey was carried out last year, which asked town centre businesses about creating a BID in central Shirley. Responses were received from over 100 businesses, almost 70% of which supported a project of this type being taken forward.

Shirley businesses begin voting on proposals to introduce Business Improvement District for Stratford Road

Shirley BID’s proposals to improve the Stratford Road corridor include employing a warden to react quickly to problem issues such as litter or graffiti, working with partners to deliver improved visitor WiFi and to develop at least two major new town centre events with an annual calendar of street markets.

The BID will lobby for improvements to existing car park facilities and the introduction of parking meters where required.

Shirley BID will also make ongoing investments to improve the Christmas light displays, introduce promotional campaigns to highlight independent businesses and work with partner organisations to improve street paving maintenance.

Voters have until 5pm on May 23rd to vote. If the ballot is successful, with a majority of businesses voting in favour by both number and aggregate of Rateable Value, the 1.5% levy will be mandatory on all businesses in the BID area with a Rateable Value of £7,500 and above.

It has been calculated that for the average business, the cost of the BID levy would be less than £1.35 per day.Writing in the Shirley BID five-year Business Plan, Jon Wilson of Boots Shirley, said: “I am convinced that a successful BID will markedly improve the outlook for the entire community of Shirley in terms of improved security measures, local marketing and most importantly a real chance to have a unified voice and purpose for all businesses.

“This is a one-off special opportunity to have a real impact on our own turf.”The effectiveness of the Shirley BID Business Plan would be measured by regular surveys, analysis of footfall and sales performance data, plus tracking of vacant unit levels.

Andy Powers, director, Martin & Co Solicitors, added: “I believe as a business you are part of the community, and therefore you should involve yourself in those activities that will improve the community. I firmly believe Shirley BID will improve the area for all whether you are a business or a resident.”

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REVIVE & THRIVE’S

Revive & Thrive Regional Networking Event, DerbyshireRevive & ThriveTue 10 July 201811:00 – 16:00 BSTSharpes Pottery MuseumSwadlincote

BOOK NOWFull details coming soon...

More Future Revive & Thrive Regional Events:

Durham – September 2018

Gloucestershire – September 2018

Wimborne – October 2018

Chester – February 2019

Fleet – April 2019

Slough - TBC

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PLACE FOR TOWNS AND CITIES

With a new Chief Executive and Management Team in place, Melton Borough Council is facing the future with renewed vigour and confidence. Melton is a small but ambitious council that has always punched above its weight, and we are determined to further enhance the quality of life for everyone in the borough and create sustainable, prosperous and vibrant communities. Key to that is regeneration and place making. As a result of a recent restructure, we are now looking to appoint two new officers to help drive forward the work of the expanded Place and Regeneration Team and progress the Council’s place shaping aspirations.

Economic Regeneration Officer ( Town Centre and Tourism) The Economic Regeneration Officer (Town Centre and Tourism) will play a lead role in establishing the Town and Place Strategic Partnership, facilitate the development of a town centre strategy and deliver projects that enhance the town centre and tourism in the Borough.

Economic Regeneration Officer (Projects) The Economic Regeneration Officer (Projects) will develop, lead on and implement a range of key ‘place shaping’ and economic regeneration projects that maximise the economic growth and prosperity of the Melton Mowbray and the surrounding rural area.

Melton Borough Council

REVIVE & THRIVE JOBS BOARD

MORE INFO

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To ensure The Fitzrovia Partnership Business Improvement District maintains a member focused approach putting members needs at the heart of the BIDs work programme. To deliver a member relationship plan, with input into corporate communications and the organisation of events.

To develop the member benefits programme, working with businesses to identify new business and employee requirements within the BID area.

The role will report to Head of Marketing and Communications (Bee De Soto)

Membership Services Executive, The Fitzrovia Partnership Business Improvement DistrictContract: PermanentSalary: Negotiable based on experienceDeadline: 31st May 2018

Find out more and Download Job and Person Specification here.

Please direct enquiries and applications to bee.desoto@fitzroviapartnership.com

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REVIVE & THRIVE’S

While the vast majority of people enjoy their nights out safely, there is a small percentage at risk of becoming vulnerable or causing anti-social behaviour for reasons including alcohol misuse. Safe Spaces provide on the spot support, care, and often medical treatment, helping to make the night time economy safer for everyone. From the Colchester SOS bus to the Aberdeen Safe Space Truck, these multi-agency partnership schemes play a vital role in supporting individuals and relieving pressure on the police, ambulance and A&E services up and down the country. The schemes also benefit businesses in the night time economy as well as the wider reputation of the town or city through improving the visitor environment for and enhancing the area’s duty of care for night time revellers.

There are currently 45 schemes operating across the UK but we estimate that there is potential for a further 150 to be set up. We recently commissioned MAKE Associates to undertake the first ever analysis into the impact of Safe Spaces. The findings showed that investment in them can help offset public sector costs by as much as £9.31 for every £1 spent. A full network of Spaces could return more than £100m to the NHS every year, further reducing hospital admissions and instances of alcohol related disorder.

So what do we need to do to help grow the network? We have already produced a toolkit to make sure that those starting a new Safe Space can hit the ground running as well as looking at doing annual evaluations of schemes to demonstrate their ongoing value and benefits.

The importance of engaging all relevant stakeholders, including ambulance trusts, clinical care commissioning agencies, public health bodies, local government and police chiefs and trade bodies in the discussion is also imperative. Ultimately, tackling alcohol harms and reducing vulnerability must be a collective effort.

The Safe Space toolkit, with advice on what to consider when creating a safe space scheme in your town, is available here

The full MAKE Associates report into Safe Spaces is available here

John Timothy, CEO, the Portman Group

Safe Spaces in the Night Time economy – partnership working that delivers social and economic benefits

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The inaugural Montgomeryshire Literary Festival – Gwyl Llên Maldwyn 2018 or Monty Lit Fest will be held on Saturday 9th June 2018 at Bodfach Hall, Llanfyllin in the north of Montgomeryshire. This first Festival will showcase several wonderful authors who live in Montgomeryshire and has two main themes: history and love of the countryside. Full details can be seen on the Monty Lit Fest website:www.montylitfest.com

The authors speaking at the Festival are: novelist Myfanwy Alexander; naturalist and broadcaster Iolo Williams; writer and doyenne of television interviewers Mavis Nicholson; historian Matthew Dennison; leading Literary Agent and historian Andrew Lownie; poet and politician Lord Gowrie, and author Adele Nozedar of Brecon Beacons Foraging. The day will finish with complimentary live music performed by Ruth and Ken Powell from 6.30pm to 8pm. Full biographical details and photos of the authors and musicians are attached including the times of each talk.

The Festival, founded by Simon Baynes, is being organised by Myfanwy Alexander, Amanda Jenner and Simon and Maggie Baynes. It will be held in the ten acre gardens of Bodfach Hall just outside Llanfyllin. It is a familiar place to many people as the gardens are regularly opened for charity and the Llanfyllin Show is held on the parkland every August (a photograph of the gardens is attached and there are more in the attached document).

Our intention is to make the Monty Lit Fest an annual event, held at a different location in Montgomeryshire each year. We are very keen to involve as many people as possible in its organisation and are therefore setting up a Festival Committee; if you would like to join, please email Simon on baynes@bodfach.com or ring 07880 786573.

Festival tickets are available via the website or by emailing baynes@

Montgomeryshire Literary Festival – Gwyl Llên Maldwynbodfach.com to receive a hardcopy order form for a postal application. The tickets can be purchased for individual talks (£7 each) or you can buy a Morning or Afternoon Pass (£15 each) or a day pass (£30) which provide a discounted rate for the talks (excluding the Botanical Gin workshop at 6.30pm which is a fundraising event for the Festival with tickets priced at £20). Car parking is free.

Food and drink for the Festival will be provided by Cwpan Pinc of nearby Llangadfan www.cwpanpinc.co.uk and there will be a special tent and activities for children organised by Llanfyllin-based professional childminders Closeknit Teulu Agos run by Shan Mayor. We are very keen to make the Monty Lit Fest a day out for all the family.

The talks will start at 10am and will last for 50 minutes each, including Q&A, and will be held in a central marquee with a PA system so everyone can hear clearly.The authors speaking will be signing copies of their books for you to purchase from a pop-up bookstore at the Festival provided by Oswestry’s award-winning independent Booka Bookshop www.bookabookshop.co.uk

For more information or any enquiries, please contact Simon Baynes on 07880 786573 or baynes@bodfach.com or write to: Bodfach Hall, Llanfyllin, Powys SY22 5HS.

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REVIVE & THRIVE’S

intrigueinspireilluminate

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PLACE FOR TOWNS AND CITIES

Keith Jackson

The Rise of ProvenanceThe increasing consumer interest in the provenance of their food driven by food scares and a desire to understand what we are feeding our children is possibly going to become more polarised into cost conscious and ‘food conscious’ consumers. The rise of retail mergers may mean ‘provenance’ becomes a key point of difference for certain retailers.

Retail is changing, Sainsbury and ASDA merging is part of a major shake up in food retail similar to that of the UKs retail banking industry back in the 70s and 80s . The large retail multiples only tend to merge when they run out of ideas to grow their market share organically.

The merging of the banks led to the disappearance of many high street names...first in the banks like Midland, Coutts, Williams & Glyns and later the disappearance of many Building Society Names through to Bradford & Bingley. It was not all closures...there was the appearance of new international players like HSBC and Santander and new startups like Virgin and online solutions ...First Direct.

The merger of Sainsbury and ASDA may in some part be to new alliances of other food retailers, specifically Tesco’s merger with Booker which effectively brings many local high street names under one banner (One Stop, Budgens, Londis , Family Shopper and Premier will all be supplied by the new group); the Coops takeover of NISA brings the Costcutter and NISA brand into the Coops supply chain and Morrisons developing relationship with Amazon.

Large mergers are generally made to cut costs which usually means simplifying the supply chain. The discounters (Aldi and Lidl) simplify the chain by limiting choice this allows them to support provenance at a national level (allowing Lidl to promote Scottish Food), Tesco has tended to simplify its supply chain by cutting suppliers and reducing opportunities to celebrate provenance. Morrisons and the Coop both celebrate provenance at a local and regional level using this as a key point of difference.

It will be interesting to see where the focus of the new Sainsbury/ASDA group lies (reduction in suppliers or focus on regional/local provenance). The choice

may well depend on the focus of us as consumers and interestingly last month saw the launch of Happerley an organisation focused on promoting genuine food provenance. If you have a genuine desire to see the growth of your local food industry we would suggest you check Happerley out, it was officially launched at the Food & Drink Expo in April with support from amongst others Adam Henson (BBC Countryfile) Peter Jinman (Head of DEFRA Animal Welfare) & Philip Pononby (CEO Mid-Counties Co-operative) and if this works it has the chance to change the attitude of the food supply chain in the UK for ever.

Food provenance should not just be about supporting trendy/exclusive local food it should be about creating a genuine food supply for all that is focused on its area and genuinely supports a local/regional taste for our local high street food offering.

If you want to talk about this just email us at hello@thomasjardineandco.co.uk

• Experience of working with many town and city centres over many years, from feasibility and development to management, evaluation and renewal

• Advice on standard BID developments, industrial BIDs, tourism BIDs, property owner BIDs

• UK wide network of BID experts and practitioners with a geographical spread that understands regional issues and different ‘types’ of towns such as Market, Coastal, etc.

• National promotion for your place while your BID is developed through our 30,000 social media reach, our growing membership and through Place Magazine. Subscribers to this free place related magazine are growing daily and it is directly delivered to over 4,000 people and each edition is shared continually via social media for a month

• We can showcase your place by hosting a regional networking event

• Bespoke and individually tailored and costed solutions for your place

• Innovative BID management tool

(database), free websites for your businesses and discounted products and services via our links to place solution providers

• Our clear grasp of client needs and problem-solving capabilities that we can provide

• We have a practical understanding of the realities of retailers of all sizes and sectors

• Ability to successfully support the scale-up of retail businesses, increasing job opportunities

• We have senior level contacts, giving direct access to decision-takers and top retail brands

• We enjoy a close collaboration with clients. We deliver hands-on involvement, adept change management and the ability to energise stakeholders and cultivate confidence in success

• We understand the requirement for clear communications covering strategy, goals, planning and all aspects of implementation

Clients include - • Birmingham City Council• Chippenham BID• Sunderland City Market Traders• Debenhams• Disney• Ealing Council• Exeter BID• GEOX• Hamleys• Harbourside / Porthcawl Maritime

Centre• Hastings Borough Council• Hexham BID• Llangefni Town Council• Minehead BID• Mumzworld.com• New Look• Next• Northumberland Council• Poole BID• Quiz• Storm Flowers London• Sunderland BID and Council • Weston BID (first term & renewal) • Numerous BIDs and Councils

through our membership and wider

Why Choose Revive & Thrive for your Business Improvement District Feasibility Study?

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REVIVE & THRIVE’S

networks• Numerous innovators and providers

of tools and solutions for town centres and high streets

Our Commitment to YOURevive & Thrive acknowledges that engagement with business and winning their hearts and minds is the hardest part of place management. Revive & Thrive tackles this head on and has spent many years building the right team to deliver this.

We are confident that we can gain more engagement than other providers to enable your business community to make the right decisions and thrive. To support this claim, Revive & Thrive will include pre-agreed penalty clauses in our contracts if we do not hit the agreed KPIs regarding engagement and / or impact. Furthermore, if businesses in your area are in favour of testing a

BID at ballot, we will add another set of pre-agreed mechanisms in the ensuing contract to reduce costs as we will already have significant knowledge of the area We will be effective from day one of the BID development phase to the ballot. We will know your local community; the influencers and the detractors, the shapers and the shakers and the landscape and environment of the BID. Therefore, we will not require any acclimatizing or gathering local knowledge.

Our Approach Our BID Feasibility Service offers the following guarantees:• To devise and agree the right

proposed BID area• We will build a contact database of

business activity in the proposed BID area

• We will guarantee a minimum level of survey responses, based on the size of your area, to produce

a robust feasibility analysis. Measurement and target KPIs will be agreed at contract stage through discussion.

• We will give you options and recommendations on the best ways to model your BID area and levy rates

• We will also be very honest in our assessments, and advise if we think a BID is not a feasible option for your place, and look at other ways to help it thrive

• We will provide detailed analysis of the Rating List of your BID area by sector, geography, and RV so that we really know the stakeholders and understand the occupancy and business use of your place

• Using our skills in improving understanding of the retail needs of local consumers, key drivers, how to attract more visitors, appraising scale of opportunity, average visitor spend, SWOT analyses of regional competitors, etc., we will really get under the skin of your business

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REVIVE & THRIVE’S

• community and deliver the best Business Plan including a full Retail Strategy for your proposed BID

• We will make early recommendations on BID projects based on the outcomes of the business survey

• We will help you decide how best to fund a BID development

• Offer a bid writing service for BID loan if necessary.

• During the feasibility process we will undertake every possible measure to have face to face conversations with the right people in local businesses. We will be visible and on the ground having real discussions winning hearts and minds with honest coaching and

debate. Our confidence in this area means that we will add penalty clauses to the contract if agreed KPIs are not delivered.

• Prior to commencing work we will guarantee to hold an agreed number of business meetings within the contract and during the same term ensure that we maximise attendance at each meeting through discussion, social media, email and other available marketing. Our enviable experience of retail both local independent and national retail will ensure that your place makes the right decision during ballot

• Our ability to communicate at the right level with businesses and retailers will ensure excellent engagement and survey responses

throughout the process.• Our unique ability to attract new

brands that will upgrade and energise your retail environment will kickstart the BID’s early stages and offer opportunities for quick wins

• We will draw all of the above together in a comprehensive and robust feasibility study and subsequent business plan

• We will be there, with you, hands-on, on the ground, to get a true feel for the feasibility of a BID in your area and take your PLACE to the next level

To find out more email bids@reviveandthrive.co.uk or call 03330 124285

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31 Chesterfield retailers are set to go head-to-head in the fifth annual Chesterfield Retail Awards. Organised by Destination Chesterfield, shops, stores and market stalls will be battling it out to claim at least one of 15 titles, including the coveted overall title of Retailer of the Year, sponsored by East Midlands Chamber. This year fourteen businesses have been nominated for the first time and seven are hoping to defend their 2017 Chesterfield Retail Awards titles. This year for the first time the winners will be announced at a black-tie awards ceremony being held at The Winding Wheel on Wednesday 13 June. Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager, said: “Now in its fifth year, the awards are a great opportunity for everyone to recognise the hard work and contributions individuals and businesses make to the town’s flourishing retail scene. It’s great to see both returning nominees, winners and new faces in the shortlist.” At the awards, The Pavements Shopping Centre will also present an award to recognise the Best Retailer in the Pavements Shopping Centre voted by shoppers. Three businesses located in the Pavements are shortlisted for the award. The shortlisted businesses announced so far in the Chesterfield Retail Awards include: Hair & Beauty Business of the YearThe Body Shop InternationalFinesse Hair, Nails & BeautyThe Therapy Lounge

31 retailers go head-to-head in 2018 Chesterfield Retail Awards

Fashion and Footwear Retailer of the Year – sponsored by In the Works PRBlanc & Blanc OccasionsIngman’sMarks and Spencer Jewellery & Accessories Retailer of the YearAdorn Jewellers of ChesterfieldGreen & BenzLibby’s Home & Gifts Retailer of the YearH&FKaren’s One Stop Gift ShopOlympia House Antiques and Craft Centre Food & Drink Retailer of the YearLambs Cupcakes of ChesterfieldNorthern Tea MerchantsR P Davidson Cheese Factor Leisure Retailer of the Year – sponsored by Peak FMGeeks Headquarters LtdI Fix Tech ChesterfieldStraightCurves Creative Ltd Market Hall Business of the YearDHC CountrywearLambs Cupcakes of ChesterfieldQuinney’s Pet Supplies Best New Store 2017/2018Baby to BiggerDotiqueUrban Flamingo Market Trader of the Year – sponsored by Chesterfield Borough CouncilIbbotson’s Fresh Quality ProduceLavender Dog ShopRate Good Brownie Boxes Independent Retailer of the Year –

sponsored by Jumble Creative DesignAdorn Jewellers of ChesterfieldIbbotson’s Fresh Quality ProduceGreen and Benz National Retailer of the Year – sponsored by The University of DerbyThe Body Shop InternationalThe Fragrance ShopSpecsavers Excellence in Customer Service – sponsored by The Pavements Shopping CentreAdorn Jewellers of ChesterfieldGreen & BenzSpecsavers Best Retailer in the Pavements Shopping CentreThe Fragrance Shop,The Full Monty BarbersMasserella’s. This year a further two new awards will be presented at the ceremony in June to commend apprentices and their employers in the retail sector. Finalists of the new Apprentice of the Year and Apprentice Employer of the Year categories sponsored by Apprentice Town, (led by Chesterfield Borough Council) and Learning Unlimited (The Chesterfield College Group) respectively will be announced shortly. Other supporters of the 2018 Chesterfield Retail Awards include: Derbyshire Times, eBusiness Works, JP Fire Safety and Temple Safety. For more information about the awards including details of remaining sponsorship packages, visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards

Revive & Thrive looks after all five stages of a Business Improvement District’s life and focuses on business engagement to ensure that the right BID is developed for your area.

Feasibility – Is a BID right for your area? We help you make the right decision and if necessary suggest alternatives.

Planning – working with your local working group we will make sure that your BID is ready to go live and is future fit

Implementation – Once the ballot closes, the real work begins! There will be much to do before the BID can actually begin

Delivery – For BIDs that have begun operations, Revive & Thrive is here for you, whatever your needs, from interim management to general support and advice.

Renewal – The all important endorsement of your hard work. Revive & Thrive has comprehensive programmefor BID Renewal

Why Choose Revive & Thrive for your Business Improvement District Feasibility Study?

Revive & Thrive‘s Business Improvement District Feasibility Study is back with a new team and bold guarantees ensuring that we are achieving the right results. The new team brings even more experience and a wealth of new clients to give you the satisfaction that considering a Business Improvement District Feasibility Study for your place is in the right hands.

Long-standing place practitioners will probably already be aware of Revive & Thrive Director Matthew Powell and Town Centre Management and Business Improvement District Professional Lucy Ball but might not yet heard of our new Director of Retail and Business Engagement, Sarah Pavlou. Sarah’s experience especially within retail, gives us the confidence that we can offer an unprecedented level of engagement and impact with businesses within our Business Improvement District Feasibility Study.

Download our Business Improvement District Feasibility Study brochure here and read more about our Feasibility Study services on page 22.

BID Development – Planning, Implementation and Delivery

Revive & Thrive can help with all

Business Improvement District Services – 5 stages

elements of BID Development including helping with BID Loan Fund applications.

On these pages we highlight the functions that we include within the planning, implementation and delivery stages.

BID Development

• Database Development • BID Sub-Group Meetings • Identify and Support BID

Champions • Survey • Public Sector Consultations • Business Consultations and

Communication • Identify BID themes • BID Proposal • BID modelling • Identify Primary Local Authority

Contact • Agree Local Authority Processes • Attend Council Meetings • Draw up baseline agreements • Agree balloting procedures • Agree billing arrangements –• Operating Agreements • Agree Milestones • BID development timeline • Agree balloting procedures • Pre-ballot events • Branding • Marketing strategy • Canvassing action plan • Canvassing

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BID Implementation

Once the ballot closes, the real work begins! Assuming that the outcome of the BID ballot is positive, there will be much to do before the BID can actually begin, starting with the communication of the ballot result.

Almost immediately, you will need to establish the BID company itself and recruit a Board of Directors. They will need to understand the commitment and differences between being a volunteer on a BID DevelopmentSteering Group and being a Company Director.

Our Recruitment service will be key during your BID Development. Probably the first task for the Board will be to recruit a BID Manager as this person will not only be tasked with delivering the projects within your business plan but will also need to get to grips with how they see the day to day operations of the BID being run.

Prioritising the first year’s tasks, looking at the quick wins and understanding the longer-term strategic needs of the BID and local business community are all vital, even before the BID formally commences.

From a technical and financial perspective, you will need to open a bank account, agree with your local

billing authority as to how and when you will receive your first payments, register the BID for VAT and ensurethat insurance and data protection procedures are in place.

Revive & Thrive is here to help you throughout that process.

BID Delivery

For BIDs that have begun operations, Revive & Thrive has a number of support options, whatever your needs, from interim management to general support and advice.

Using our networks, partners and expertise, we can support your BID by:• Working with you and your Board• Helping you with annual and interim

reports and evaluations• Strengthening your team with our

recruitment service• Advising on how to maximise

income• Writing marketing and other

strategies and helping you to implement them

• Developing your online and social media channels

• Improving your routes to engagement with your levy-paying businesses

• Providing you with a range of HR• Ensuring you are delivering

maximum return on investment for your levy-paying businesses

• Facilitating the delivery of your

projects • Putting your BID in the best

possible position to be successful with its renewal ballot

BID Renewal

Revive & Thrive has a comprehensive programme for BID Renewal which includes the following –

• Evaluation of existing BID performance

• Business survey • Business networking events • Refresh of the BID database• Meetings with public sector and

other key stakeholders• Review local authority processes

and baselines• Review BID modelling• Sector-based workshops • In line with all of the above, and in

conjunction with the BID Board and wider business community draw up a business plan for BID renewal ballot

Revive & Thrive understands that all BIDs have distinct needs, budgets and levels of experience. As such, we will tailor the above elements into a bespoke package to meet clients’ requirements.

Please contact bids@reviveandthrive.co.uk or call 03330 124 285 to discuss any of our BID services.

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Benefits include: • National and regional networking events covering issues and policy affecting your place

• A single voice to lobby for positive change nationally

• Unlimited access to Revive & Thrive’s Non-Executive Board, Steering Group, Regional Advisors and Expert Panel

• Exclusive member only updates

• Promote your place and BID by writing free articles for monthly Place magazine

• Updates on the latest technologies and solutions for places

• Discounts and special offers from our Place Solution Members

• Place Magazine: 50% discounts on advertising in Place Magazine

• Recruitment Service: Target your advert specifically at experienced place management and Business Improvement District professionals

• You will benefit from unlimited access to Revive & Thrive

Advisory Service

Place Magazine Subscription Plus – Free

Place Revive & Thrive Membership – £295 + vat per annum

Revive & Thrive Associate Membership – £135 + vat per annum

Business Group membership – £495 per annum

Sponsorship (previously Corporate Advocate) – £295 per month or £3000 per annum

Be a part of a national network of place practitioners, BIDs, Councils, businesses and passionate people that facilitates discussion, learning, networking and up to date policy so that you can do your job

Don’t work in isolation. Join Revive & Thrive.

Membership 2018

JoinToday

www.reviveandthrive.co.uk

supported and no longer in isolation.

As a place management professional, business or passionate resident, becoming a member of Revive & Thrive will provide you with regular networking opportunities, monthly updates on policy and how this will affect your work. We will promote your work, events and projects via our monthly Place magazine, website and social media. Our new distinct memberships will provide you with free and easy access to all Revive & Thrive events and competitions and information and advice.

Join today, save money and become part of a national network of passionate people who are passionate about the places where we live, work and play.

We need you! Become a Regional AdvisorRepresent your Place by becoming a Regional Advisor with Revive & Thrive

We are looking for experienced and passionate people to become Revive & Thrive Regional Advisors. This role will ensure that towns and cities in your area of the UK are represented as part of the Revive & Thrive family.

In addition to supporting and working alongside the Revive & Thrive team, you will be encouraged and helped to engage with towns and cities in your area to understand the issues and opportunities facing them.

If you become a Regional Advisor, you will be offered secretariat support to run

best practice and information sharing meetings for places in your area which will create a networking opportunity for those working in place management that might feel like they are working in isolation.

Regional Advisors will be motivated by a desire to support and improve town/city centres and high streets - whilst this is a largely a voluntary role, numerous opportunities to enhance your CV, create new contracts and business opportunities and if relevant jointly tender with Revive & Thrive will emerge. There are direct and immediate income

opportunities for Regional Advisors and these can be discussed in an informal phone discussion.

It is expected that our Regional Advisors will be individuals, but organisations related to place management would be encouraged to get in touch as well.

So why not join us and see how this opportunity will benefit you both personally and professionally?To find out more please email mark@reviveandthrive.co.uk, call 07590 005692

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REVIVE & THRIVE’S

Caldicot Town Team’s profile continues to grow with another successful event. Their Right Royal Knees Up event, which celebrated the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Saturday 19th May, was the largest street party in Monmouthshire.

Hundreds turned out to watch the royal wedding take place, on a huge 26 Sqm screen, located in the town centre. Visitors and businesses brought along plates of food to share, which lasted well into the late afternoon. Local Brewery BAA brewing and The Little Vintage Bar

Caldicot Town Teamprovided a selection of Locally provided ales, prosecco and gin for those at the event. With the sun shining, alcohol flowing and food a plenty the event was a huge success. The team ran a raffle, with over 20 prizes donated by local businesses and sold almost 300 raffle tickets, which beats the previous record. Seating and gazebos helped add to the atmosphere, with a cinema style setting in the centre of the town. A window competition was also held during the day, with members of the public voting on Facebook for their

winner, over 15 businesses took part in the competition, which transformed the town centre, along with 700m of union jack bunting which decorated the town. Caldicot Town Team are a totally voluntary, not for profit community group, working hard to make Caldicot a better place to work, live and play. With numerous events throughout the year, specialised markets, town centre improvement projects the team are always busy working on projects for the betterment of the town.

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The #WDYT (What do you think?) campaign helps retailers, towns, and cities to collaboratively improve their digital influence, which increases local footfall and sales. The platform, launched in collaboration with GFirst LEP and the Future High Street Forum, enables retailers to increase their digital influence by sharing new products, events, and news daily on social media using the #WDYT hashtag, which amplifies their posts to thousands of shoppers. The voice of the customer is harnessed and turned into an asset for the place or business. The campaign encourages and supports digital conversations with shoppers, retailers, towns, and cities, and is a proven way for places of all shapes and sizes to collaboratively increase their digital influence to drive an increase in digital skills, local footfall and sales. This approach has increased digital conversion rates by more than 2% and physical footfall by over 20%.

Towns and retailers that engage in the #WDYT campaign have seen a rapid and significant increase in digital influence and output. This has proven to be a catalyst that encourages retailers to accelerate their digital strategy and uptake.

To illustrate, Stafford has moved up a total of 100 places in the Digital Influence Index within a year of joining the #WDYT campaign to reach number 20. Footfall in the town has increased 22% over the same period.

Gloucester is holding its position at number 12 in the index. The number of retail businesses in the city using social media has risen by 220% since early 2017 driven by the #WDYT campaign.Cheltenham at number 9 in the index has moved up 14 places within a year. It is currently the leading town in the UK for Digital Influence and is catching up with the seven larger cities above it including Edinburgh (3rd), Bristol (4th) and Manchester (7th).

The data from the index shows that almost 600 retailers in Cheltenham are now active on social media following the town’s launch of the #WDYT campaign in February last year.

Enabling and encouraging places and retailers to think about serving their customers in new ways is a key part

of the evolution of retail destinations. Places that grow their digital influence increase their attractiveness to shoppers. Every town and city across the UK is the sum of its digital parts; it is the collaborative digital output that delivers footfall and sales.

Polly Barnfield OBE, Founder and CEO of Maybe* and the #WDYT campaign

Use Digital to Turn Online Conversations into Offline Sales

Polly Barnfield

Swadlincote: The National Forest34

REVIVE & THRIVE’S

When I last wrote about Swadlincote, in 2005, Ray Jones, the Chair of South Derbyshire District Council, told me that when he came to live here in 1988, ‘the place was on its knees.’ Today, not only is ‘Swad’ back on its feet, it’s holding its head high and shouting from the rooftops. Or should I say treetops? After all, in 1991, three years after Ray took up residence, the National Forest was formed.

By 2005, Ray proudly announced that Swadlincote was ‘the fastest-growing town in the East Midlands.’ Once a town of ‘pits and pots’, Swad had been revitalised.

As Swadlincote has grown exponentially, so has the National Forest. Where once were slag heaps are now woodland sites. Encompassing 200 square miles, the National Forest now attracts 8.2 million visitors per year who are spending close on £4 million and supporting nearly 5,000 jobs.

As for Swadlincote, what was once a backwoods is now moving forward as an active and important hub of the extensive woods around. According to Frank McArdle, Chief Executive of South Derbyshire District Council for the last 18 years, Swadlincote is now a ‘thriving’ town which has, in effect, become ‘the heart of the National Forest.’

‘We are reaping the benefits of the seeds that were sown by the National Forest,’ affirms Frank, ‘and we have a district that is now a green and pleasant land.’

The attraction of the National Forest has encouraged Swadlincote to promote itself as a destination town. So what has the town itself to offer? Well, although its spoil heaps and clay holes have been replaced by new houses and fresh factories, its industrial heritage lives on inside Sharpe’s Pottery Museum, built around an iconic, age-old kiln hovel. Did you know, for instance, that from the 16th to the 21st century, the south Derbyshire pottery industry ranked second only in status to that of Stoke-on-Trent for pottery manufacture? The museum also highlights the global

impact of the town’s sewage pipe industry and I have no doubt there’s a glint in the eye of every tour guide when it’s revealed that the City of Westminster ordered pipes from Swadlincote to take the flow of waste from the Houses of Parliament.

Within the museum is The Magic Attic, a volunteer-run resource which has enriched Swadlincote and made it a go-to destination on its own. Here is a massive stacked-to-the-rafters store of newspapers, photographs, maps, books and artefacts, lovingly maintained by about 25 volunteers. Magic Attic creator Graham Nutt revealed that there are now 18 tons of material here.

If you have any links with south Derbyshire – and are especially keen to source your family history – this is a treasure trove. ‘Grown men have cried after making discoveries here’ says Graham proudly. There are numerous books on subjects that have been dusted down and brought to life in the Attic – there are seven volumes alone on Derbyshire’s agricultural heritage – and the team have created a whole series of talks and walks. Graham posed for a photo clutching precious cans of films containing local scenes which will be showcased in the summer.

Sharpe’s Pottery Museum also houses the Tourist Information Centre, named in 2015 as one of the best in the country. As Centre manager Gail Archer told me: ‘Swadlincote used to be a place to drive through; now, it’s a place to come to.’ Gail showed me a host of leaflets, one highlighting a Festival of Leisure in neighbouring Church Gresley. Other forthcoming events include: an Antiques Valuation Day at Sharpe’s; a tour of Sealwood Cottage, south Derbyshire’s very own vineyard; and Djembe drumming sessions in Swadlincote’s Dance & Music Centre in The Delph, which is itself now a thriving public square, performance area and social hub. I love the sound in particular of Ey Up Mi Duck Day on August 3rd, a day dedicated to Derbyshire dialect, with walks and talks planned.

There are leaflets to take you on

numerous walks around south Derbyshire, both pictorial and historical. A short Magic Attic guided walk on May 31st will reveal the impact of the Swadlincote Townscape Heritage Scheme which has seen the restoration of key buildings in the town, a very recent example being the Princess Diana Memorial Garden. There have also been some notable refurbishments of Victorian and Edwardian shop frontages which has made the town centre more attractive, especially when the award-winning market snakes down the High Street every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.

One very traditional frontage bears the name Salts which, if you buy the book about the shop, tells you it was known as ‘The Heart and Harrods of Swadlincote.’ This set of department stores is now down to one shop which lay empty for three years until, last year, Jacqui Sidwells re-opened it as an Aladdin’s Cave of vintage and retro gifts, collectibles and artefacts. Local industry is honoured here with the stocking of pottery from Bretby, Ault and T G Green, the latter famous for its blue and white striped Cornish Kitchen Ware. As I gazed around this emporium, I saw artwork, statues, ceramics, cushions, unusual lamps, vinyl records, model cars, Wrangler and Levi jeans, and a noted emphasis on steampunk items.

‘I aimed to restore and preserve this iconic building sympathetically,’ says Jacqui, ‘and I knew I had when Royston Salt himself came in and gave me a hug.’ Plans are now afoot to turn the ground floor into a café.

Swadlincote is definitely a place to visit if you crave vintage gifts as further down the street is Curly Magpie & Friends where you can buy ‘vintage delights and beautiful handmade gifts’ with 25 specialist traders ensconced in every nook and cranny, one selling jams, another jewellery. There is also The Vintage Kiosk selling furniture and homeware.

There is a vintage feel inside the Bluebell Tea Rooms which is ‘a dream come true’ for owner Amanda Collingham. As well

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as dining, there is a Vintage Crockery hire service for Vintage parties in your own home.

You will crave the vintage treats inside Churchill’s – if you have a sweet tooth. For three years, Karl Williams has been appealing to nostalgic tastes by selling traditional sweets such as spearmint chews, cinder toffee, Pontefract Cakes, chocolate limes and lemon sherbets. Cannily, Karl has 48 jars of sugar-free confectionery.

There is traditional craftsmanship to behold inside Clive’s Candles, just around the corner from Sharpe’s Pottery. For two years, retired behavioural psychologist Clive Leake has been appealing to people’s sense of smell and memory with hand-crafted candles. His workshop is in plain sight so you can see him create his candles; and, if children come in, they are invited to help. He also runs candle-making workshops.‘I love the alchemy, especially the blending of fragrances’ says Clive and when he places his best seller under my nose – Black Coffee, a rich aroma of double espresso with a shot of caramel – I can see why. Clive points out that while the industry average for the fragrancy of a candle is three per cent of the wax, Clive’s is ten.

Swadlincote would clearly benefit if there were more niche artisan outlets like Clive’s Candles. The High Street is still alive, though, and has profited from the astute placing of its two main supermarkets, Morrisons and Sainsburys. As Frank McArdle points out: ‘We have created an out-of-town

shopping experience in the centre of town.’ Park at either supermarket and it’s only a short walk into the heart of Swad. What enhances this strategy is that there has always been free parking in the town – and there are 1500 spaces. ‘This is our beacon of support for our traders’ affirms Frank McArdle. If Swadlincote can make this work, why not other towns?

Better still, adjacent to Morrisons is The Pipeworks comprising varied retail units, a five-screen Odeon and a swish Italian restaurant Prezzo, a strikingly individual modern building with a bright, classy interior and a sumptuous menu. Also, the preservation of part of Hepworth’s pipeworks brings a pleasing blend of old and new. In fact, the pub/restaurant Tall Chimney occupies part of the old pipeworks; and I also noted how the Roger James furniture store has sympathetically adapted the old gasworks, retaining its chimney. Tucked away in a courtyard in town is Provencale, run by Ian Philliskirk, who offers high value kitchens and now uses his showroom for private dining experiences.

There are various leisure attractions in Swadlincote with the opening recently of Apex, a 16-station indoor climbing centre. The town’s Ski Centre continues to bring half a million visitors per year to the town. The dry slope increasingly attracts snowboarding and there is a toboggan run plus snow tubing and now a Drop Slide – ‘extreme snow-tubing for those wanting a little more adrenaline’ says centre manager Gemma Whetton. There is also an Alpine Lodge Bar,

restaurant and function room, with live music events just started.

Frank McArdle showed me the exciting plans for the new Swadlincote Golf Centre which has been built on an opencast clay hole, another proud example of not just regenerating disused land but also keeping attractions right in the town. Is there any other golf course in the middle of an urban setting? There is already a driving range in place but by the summer, there will be a family golf centre offering the accessibility of ‘pay as you play.’ Furthermore, there is a large country park planned on the same site with cycle paths, adventure activities and a café and pub/restaurant.

There are more activities than you can shake a stick at if you go down to the woods today. In fact, there are more than 400 woodland sites in The National Forest, 80 per cent of which has public access. A remarkable 8.7 million trees have been planted here, increasing the forest cover from 6 per cent in the early 90s to over 20 per cent, with woodland management a key priority.

190,000 people flock annually to the award-winning Forestry Centre in Rosliston, a glorious family retreat comprising woodland and meadow, ponds and play areas where you can walk your dog, ride a bike, take a picnic, fish in the lakes, climb walls or indulge in archery, astronomy, falconry and laser combat games. You can even get married here – at the Glade, offering ‘perfect seclusion’ and wonderful photo opportunities. The venue has recently been rebranded

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with a bespoke bar and dedicated venue manager and has resulted in a rise in bookings. The forest area is also home to timber lodges for family stays.

There is an abundance of fauna and flora here – this is an especial birdwatcher’s delight – and there are numerous trails and activities. The Environmental Education Project based at the Centre has branched out across the Forest and enriched the culture, heritage and habitat hereabouts. The Walking for Health Programme alone, which started at the Centre, runs up to 70 walks per month across south Derbyshire, while a look at the Wildlife Watch brochure reveals environmental games, quizzes and crafts, Pond Dipping, Wings around Rosliston – ‘see how many flying creatures you can find’ – a Minibeast Safari – ‘discover our smallest creatures’ - a Bat Walk and a Nightwatch where you can study nocturnal creatures.

There is a big wildlife event on Friday, July 27th, a night of wildlife walks, bat talks, observing the stars and moth watching, with local experts on hand. During the school holidays, there are family drop-in activities virtually every day. It’s no wonder that a favourite line of feedback at the Centre came from a youngster who wrote: ‘Everything was the best bit.’

The National Forest has become an even firmer attraction for walkers through the establishment of The National Forest

Way, which extends 75 miles from the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire to Beacon Hill Country Park in Leicestershire, passing through the south Derbyshire villages of Walton-on-Trent, Rosliston, Hartshorne and Ticknall. Also, it can be explored in ‘bite-size’ chunks, with 12 stages ranging in length from four miles to 7.5 miles.

This is a hugely significant year for The National Forest with the creation of a major new international camping festival entitled Timber, where the National Forest Company (NFC) has partnered with Wild Rumpus, award-winning producers of the Just So Festival.

The ethos behind this not-for-profit festival is that with the substantial growth of the National Forest, this was felt to be a prime time to ‘bring the transformative impact of forests to life.’As Sarah Bird and Rowan Hoban of Wild Rumpus point out: ‘Trees and forests are at the foreground of our thinking about what it means to live healthily and happily in a modern world so dominated by digital devices an new technologies.’ The festival – running from July 6th to 8th - will be held at Feanedock, a 70-acre site on the Derbyshire/Leicestershire border. There is an extensive programme featuring artists, actors, authors, acrobats, musicians, poets, sculptors, comedians, even scientists and ‘thinkers’, all within a woodland setting.

For example, you can discover what it’s like to be an animal in the forest through the eyes of four woodland species in Marshmallow Laser Feast’s

award-winning immersive virtual reality experience In the Eyes of the Animal. Headline acts include the world premiere of Seek, Find, Speak, the theatre companion piece to The Lost Words, the best-selling book by Robert MacFarlane and Jackie Morris; music headliners Jane Weaver and This Is

The Kit; and an opportunity to see Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon, a stunning art installation that had visitors queuing out the door when it was shown at Leicester Cathedral recently. There will also be aerial acrobatics in the trees, a coppice maze, interactive theatre, storytelling, ‘listening walks’, and numerous woodland workshops.

As NFC Chief Executive John Everitt explains: ‘We wanted to explore ways to truly celebrate the scale of what has been achieved over the last 25 years in creating The National Forest, and to place this work in a narrative of what trees mean to people, how forests can transform places and how a forest can be part and parcel of people’s everyday experience and landscape. Timber is going to be thought-provoking, physical, poetic, and great fun.’

With the National Forest also including Conkers Discovery Centre, Calke Abbey, Tutbury Castle, Sudbury Hall and Branston Water Park, this is an area rich in attractions. As Frank McArdle says: ‘Our mantra here at the District Council is that this is a great place to live, work and visit, and that’s never been truer than now.’

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Chippenham BID is delighted to announce a project that will save BID businesses money on their operating costs. Working in association with Meercat Associates, all BID businesses will have the opportunity to benefit from the Joint Procurement Service that has saved businesses significant sums of money across the country.

Meercat Associates are specialists in sourcing and managing contracts for individual businesses, with any size business from independent to regional and national chains benefitting from their services. They only work with BIDs and have a strong track record of saving millions of pounds across the country. This exciting project offers businesses the opportunity to benefit from joint procurement and access rates otherwise

Cost Reduction Scheme Launch for Chippenham Businessesinaccessible, leading many businesses across the country save more than their annual BID levy.

Kathryn Crosweller of Chippenham BID said, “The work of Chippenham BID covers two main priorities: providing tangible support to businesses and working with partners to create an environment that residents can be proud of, and encouraging them into town to engage with Chippenham. We are very pleased to be able to work with a reputable and established organisation to offer BID businesses the chance to save money on the essentials.”

Tom Paget, Partner of Awdry Bailey & Douglas and chair of the Backing Business committee said, “This is a great opportunity for businesses in

Chippenham to get a return on their BID levy by realising potentially significant savings on expenses. Even those businesses that have negotiated very favourable rates with suppliers may be able to save further by taking advantage of the significant savings which Meercat, with their considerable purchasing power, can access.”

Businesses within the Chippenham BID area are able to contact the BID team to find out more. They will then receive a phone call from Meercat Associates and will be offered the opportunity to meet a representative from the company. A copy of recent bills is all that is needed to get started, which will be analysed confidentially to calculate potential savings.

Step back in time and experience all the fun of the fair, brought to you by Chippenham Connected in partnership with Chippenham Town Council from 12-8pm on Saturday 14th July.

2017 saw the return of this well-loved tradition after 16 years with over 17,700 visiting Chippenham across the day, enjoying over 8 hours of free entertainment. 2018 will see even more free flowing fun with a vintage twist. Kathryn Crosweller of Chippenham Connected said, “Last year’s Carnival was brimming with superb community fun right in the heart of Chippenham. For 2018 we are delighted to be able to include a float procession with the route being released at the end of April. We encourage everyone to get involved and support your local Carnival. You can register to strut your stuff by float or by foot at www.chippenhamcarnival.co.uk - but hurry as places are limited.”

Come one, come all! Chippenham Carnival is back for 2018, with fabulous floats and vintage vibes…

Island Park will be transformed into a sea of colourful activity for all the family to enjoy from 12noon hosted by the Official Ringmaster, with performances from local musicians on the main stage, circus acts and children’s characters as well as children’s rides. The picnic zone will be the perfect place to enjoy treats from the food hub, while visitors will be able to pick up hand-crafted items, gifts and produce from the trade and charity stalls.

Sandie Webb of Chippenham Town Council said, “Chippenham Carnival is an important part Chippenham’s heritage and we are so pleased to see its return. Following its success last year, the addition of the float procession will bring even more opportunities for the local community to be involved in such a fun event in the centre of town.”

The Official Ringmaster will host the Fancy Dress Competition at 2pm at Island Park with the Mayor of Chippenham before the Carnival King, Queen, Prince and Princess are crowned at 3pm at Emery Gate Shopping Centre. Other free action-packed activities planned include a zip wire zone and climbing wall for those daredevils in the crowd and festival face painting, plus a range of circus skill workshops will be on offer including clowning, juggling and unicycling.

The new float procession will take place at 7pm, inviting the community to come together and celebrate before heading to Island Park to enjoy the finale headline act on the main stage. To stay up to date with all things Chippenham Carnival visit www.chippenhamcarnival.co.uk and follow the event on Facebook @ChippenhamConnected.

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We have now all seen the public mask of one major charity slip and the public have caught a glimpse of the real ethics that underpin these corporate mega-charities. And yet we didn’t need aninternational scandal to see the damage that these charities inflict on small communities, the evidence was there on our high streets all along. Their outlets have been taking away from cash-strapped councils and vulnerable communities and blighting our streets for years. And taxpayers have been subsidising it.

Some corporate charities are global businesses with enormous profits stacked inside those glass sky scraper corporate headquarters. Executives on banker salaries run some charity’s programmes and couldn’t be further removed from best intentioned volunteers working part or full time without compensation to ‘give back’ in their charity shops. Meanwhile overseas, funded in large-part by UK taxpayer funds, development workers on expat packages are allegedly paying the victims of natural disasters for sex. Something doesn’t add up.

The signs of a corporate structure that doesn’t care for vulnerable locals

weren’t just to be found amid the debris and misery of Port au Prince in Haiti, but are obvious for anyone who’s ever walked along a high street in the UK; go to Hastings, Blackburn or Caerphilly and you’ll see the evidence, a multitude of charity shops. In my view, not only are charities employing less-than-ethical means to achieve their domination of town centres, but this is hurting the communities they’re located in, it’sseriously affecting small businesses and who would otherwise be trading from those shops but are unable to compete and it’s an unsightly blight that’s putting off shoppers. And what’s moregovernment is funding it.

Unlike every other high street business, charity shops do not pay corporation tax, VAT or business rates, they are staffed by unpaid volunteers and receive most of their stock through donations. Withrunning costs this low, landlords are encouraged to have them in their premises knowing they can pay higher rents, and charities they are perfectly willing to collude, pricing out the local butchers, bakers and, in the more chic areas of town, candlestick makers.

I think that Labour deserve praise for persistently calling for restrictions on that other scourge of the high street, betting shops. Stella Creasy has admirably led the charge against bookmakers, arguing that they are detrimental to society and that they also contribute to a lack of variety on our streets. The latter is certainly true for charity shops, but it is increasingly clear that they might not be all they’re cracked up to be in terms of their benefit to society, either.

Charitable organisations are an important part of British life, they are a vital and vibrant part of the economy, often supporting the needy at their times of need, as well as taking a burden from government in terms of provision. And charity shops, themselves, are often important community hubs raising much needed funds for local causes as well as providing consumers with affordableclothing, furniture and, often as not, bric-a-brac. This is not an argument for a blanket roll-back on the advantages they receive.

But what is needed is a more open-eyed approach from government and changes to local authority planning laws to level the playing field between local

Are Corporate Charities Strangling Our High Streets?

businesses and charities, promote the sort of charities that contribute most to local communities and penalise the sort of corporate behaviour that seems to have taken hold in large charities.

Profits made by some huge corporate charities generally do not go back into the local community, they are global multi-billion pound organisations and while this work may be worthy, is itappropriate that local councils are effectively supporting this work rather than focusing on vulnerable people within their area? Perhaps charity shops should demonstrate how they areputting back into the communities in which they are located.

Additionally, some high street charities operate a nationwide network of shops, this is a large corporate operation and it is this large corporate structure, paying execs hundreds of thousands, that seem to have contributed to the issues on the news recently. So how about a cap on the benefits that charity shops receive at a reasonable level (say, 10-20 stores)?

Currently charity shops are classed as no different to a commercial shop on the high street. Despite being a very different beast, there are no restrictions. The simple solution is to make charity shops subject to planning applications, to change the use of the properties. This gives local government control over the make up of the high street, supporting councils’ long-term plans for these streets as the planners see fit.

These three, simple, proposals would significantly improve the variety on the high street, giving other vital local businesses the chance to thrive. But it would also allow community-based charities to flourish, ploughing profits made back into those communities.

Recent scandals have been shocking and distressing, but while people in need overseas may have repeatedly been failed, it is possible that it provides a moment of rare scrutiny and the chance for a re-think of the rules around charity shops in the UK. Which could at least benefit those in need in our local communities and not price out small job creating businesses reviving the high street.

Edward Webster,Co-Founder of Bright Young Things

An opinion piece by EdwardWebster of Bright Young Things

Opinions and views express on these pages are not necessarily that of Place Magazine, other contributors, advertisers or Revive & Thrive and its Directors.

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Firstly, we welcome any debate on charity shops, which allows us to talk about their proven worth to communities up and down the United Kingdom. The commercial and independent retail sector should view charity shops as partners and not competitors on the high street.

Charity shops can be victims of myth making in some quarters, and many readers may be surprised to learn that charity shops make up only 4 per cent of total retail units, compared to the latest published national vacancy rate of around 9.3 per cent. We recognise of course that this is a national picture and might not be reflected in an individual’s experience in town centres.

There are a variety of reasons for new businesses not opening in empty units. There is no evidence that this is due to charity shops -reasons can include competition from out of town retail parks, internet shopping, and high business rates bills.

Only five per cent of UK charity

shops pay no business rates; this support helps the sector to thrive and contribute much back to the local community. It is important to remember that business rates relief is given in recognition of philanthropic purpose and not for ease or difficulty selling different types of goods.

Charity shops form a crucial part of the ecology of the high street. We fully support any measures that lighten the burden for other high street businesses, however this must not come at the expense of the rate relief offered to charities. Charity shops receive no other significant financial relief either from Government or from local authorities.

We encourage transparency on charity retail pay but underline that in order for a charity to run effectively and maximise fundraising for their particular good cause, staff in key positions may sometimes be paid in line with market expectations.

Let’s turn to the good that charity shops provide. Last year, charity shops raised

more than £270m for good causes, and were also the largest source of volunteer opportunities in the country. This helps to tackle social isolation amongst older people and equip young people with much needed job skills.

To restrict charity shops’ ability to trade freely and select premises would be a retrograde step. They encourage footfall back into town centres and occupy retail units that could otherwise lay empty. Charity shops also help local councils save money and are environmental beacons. To take just one example: charity shops keep 323,000 tonnes of textiles out of landfill each year, saving councils across the UK £27m in landfill taxes.

It is also important to remember that every penny raised in charity shops goes to the parent charity, not profit for shareholders or private owners. Just like our partners in commercial retail, we want to see diverse, thriving villages and town centres and there is a place for charity shops on any healthy high street.

Rebuttal from the Charity Retail Association

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With entertainment extended until 9 pm for the first time, Bournemouth’s Metropole Market has confirmed an array of exciting acts for its first Alice in Wonderland inspired market on Sunday 27th May, in addition to a special costume competition.

Following last years success, the Metropole Market is back with more entertainment to excite visitors on Lansdowne’s Holdenhurst Road. The market has announced a variety of acts for its first market theme, which is inspired by Lewis Carroll’s imaginative ‘Alice in Wonderland’ tale. In addition to the free entertainment, a special costume competition will immerse visitors into the world of Alice in Wonderland on Sunday 27th May 2018.

Extending their entertainment until 9 pm for the very first time, May’s market will feature a number of weirdly wonderful acts including the Beetlejuice Circus, a group of dynamic and interactive stilt walkers. Dressed as characters from the tale, they invite visitors to follow the White Rabbit, look out for the Mad Hatter and watch out for the Queen of Hearts.

Entertainment will also see returning crowd favourites such as the Street

Comedy duo with their hilarious street antics. Furthermore, visitors can expect hypnotizing Mad Hatter inspired performances from the locally based Pantheatrix group and dance performances by the award-winning ‘First Position School of Dance’.

Live music acts set to entertain the public include talented local musicians Jemma Davies and Grace, along with Karl Lattimer who will be performing his energetic acoustic Indie Pop set. The market will also see the return of Rock ’N’ Roll artist Lewis Jordan Brown, who is headlining the evening’s entertainment.

Encouraging visitors to get involved in the day’s theme, Metropole Market is hosting a special Alice in Wonderland Costume Competition too. People who dress up as their favourite characters from the book will have an opportunity to win a full day of fun at Dorset’s No 1 Adventure Wonderland theme park with a Family Ticket for Four. Entrants are encouraged to post photos in costume on the day to the Metropole Market Facebook Page along with the hashtag #MetropoleMarket. Children’s entertainment will also feature the amazing face painters, Diamond Faces, who will be turning children into lots of mini white rabbits. Plus, there will be a

Journey Down the Rabbit Hole at Metropole’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ Market

giant teacup ride, Croquet and ‘Pin the Tail’ on the Cheshire Cat game for the little ones.

Lyn Turnbull, Co-organiser of the Metropole Market and Co-Owner of Mexigo Burrito Bar, said:

“We’re pleased to be providing a great event to start off our new series of five 2018 market experiences. With new acts and returning crowd favourites, we’re thrilled to extend the entertainment to 9 pm for the first time and remember to dress up for the day!”

Open from 11 am until 9 pm, Metropole Market is supported by the Town Centre BID. It will continue its series of markets on the last Sunday of each month in June, July, September, and October with a break in August. The market will also feature a wide range of food and drink, including Mexican, Thai and Indian street food. The Metropole Market takes place on Holdenhurst Road between Lansdowne Roundabout and St Paul’s Roundabout.

For more information, visit www.metropolemarket.co.uk or follow them on Facebook and Twitter - @MetropoleMarket.

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Jane Swift, local entrepreneur and the Business Development Director of Marsham Court Hotel comes on board at Bournemouth Coastal BID.

Bournemouth Coastal Business Improvement District has welcomed a new member to it’s board to help develop the coastal areas. Jane Swift joins Coastal BID as the new Director for the East Cliff area representing the Tourism sector. With years of practise in project management, customer services, account management, business planning and business development within the hotel and tourism industries, Jane will assist the BID in achieving its objectives for Bournemouth’s coastal districts.

Jane has a wealth of experience in Business Management having worked

as a Business Development Manager, since 2014, at the Marsham Court Hotel, where she was recently promoted to Business Development Director. Jane has also been a Volunteer Executive Director of the Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce for two years.

Passionate about building relationships with local businesses, Jane will use her new position within the Coastal BID to help develop the East Cliff area. As the newly appointed Coastal BID Director for East Cliff, Jane aims to facilitate the engagement between East Cliff business representatives in order to achieve a flourishing business scene in the area.Jane Swift, Coastal BID Director for the East Cliff area, said:

“I am looking forward to working with

Business Development Director joins the Coastal Business Improvement District

the Coastal BID team and to growing engagement with the wider business communities. I believe that the BID gives businesses a powerful voice and along with that comes amazing opportunities for growth that will benefit the whole area.”

Paul Clarke, Coastal BID Chairman, said:“We are thrilled to have Jane on board. Her wealth of experience makes Jane a fantastic addition to our team. We are looking forward to seeing how the East Cliff area will benefit from her business development input.”

To find out more about the Coastal BID, please visit www.coastalbid.co.uk.

Organised by the Bournemouth Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID), local volunteers, Councillors and community groups have come together to give Bournemouth a good spring clean.

For the second year, the Big Bournemouth Clean Up has swept through Bournemouth’s town centre with the aim of cleaning litter hotspots and restoring pride in the local area. Starting at Horseshoe Common, willing volunteers from the community braved initially wet and windy conditions. Grabbing litter picking equipment and working alongside Bournemouth Town Centre Rangers, Ricky Smith, the BID’s dedicated town centre cleaner, and the Dorset Devils community group, they picked their way through Lansdowne, Old Christchurch Road, the Square, Commercial Road, the Triangle and Poole Hill, also tackling several of the town’s car parks.

The Big Bournemouth Clean Up is an initiative launched by the Town Centre BID, a not for profit company working on

behalf of the businesses in Bournemouth town centre.

Paul Kinvig, Chief Operating Officer at Bournemouth Town Centre BID, said:“By cleaning the town centre, we can help create a welcoming environment for visitors and improve prospects for localbusinesses. We would like to thank everyone who took part in the Big Bournemouth Clean Up and it was great to see so many organisations come together for the benefit of the town.’’Sprucing-up Bournemouth in time for the May Bank Holiday, the passionate group of volunteers successfully filled 43 bags of rubbish in total. Getting stuck in, the group was also joined by several members of Bournemouth Borough Council, including Cllr David Smith and Cllr Norman Decent.Councillor David Smith said: “Not to be held back by the weather, we were delighted to take part in this Town Centre BID led community initiative. Tourism is incredibly important and it’s therefore essential for us all to do our part in keeping the town centre clean, tidy and attractive for visitors.’’

Volunteers Get Stuck In with Big Bournemouth Clean UpPeter Ryan, Founder of the Dorset Devils said:

“We were pleased to once again take part in the Big Bournemouth Clean Up. We take great pride in our local area and our members are always willing to get out there and help tidy up our patch.’’

The event took place as part of the Town Centre BID’s ‘Clean and Green’ programme. This covers a range of activities, including a dedicated cleaner for Bournemouth town centre, fly tipping removal and a number of projects to improve the look and feel of Bournemouth town centre. All activities are over and above the service provided by the local council and aim to help Bournemouth town centre to effectively compete with other centres across the UK.

To find out more about the Bournemouth Town Centre BID, visit www.towncentrebid.co.uk

To find out more about the Dorset Devils, visit www.dorsetdevils.org

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The Northwich Business Improvement District (BID) has launched a brand new website to raise awareness of the many projects and initiatives they deliver and to let people know about the work the organisation undertakes within the town.

Since receiving the ‘yes’ vote in June 2014, the Northwich BID has invested in additional projects and services to enhance the competitiveness and attractiveness of the town to help businesses grow and prosper.This has included developing a progressive marketing strategy and brand for Northwich that attracts local residents and visitors, while also positioning the town as a destination with a difference.

A website, Visit Northwich, was set up in 2015 to promote the town and is viewed by thousands of people every year, however the BID Team felt it was necessary to create a standalone site which purely advocates the BID and allows people to learn exactly what they do, as BID Manager Jane Hough has revealed.

“The new site allows people to meet the team, check out our business plan, explore the BID’s journey so far and find out the latest news from the BID area; it’s a comprehensive site and we’re more than happy with the outcome.”As well as developing a new website, the Northwich BID have also been busy planning for a series of exciting events

Northwich BID launch new websitethat are coming to the town later in 2018 which are guaranteed to pull in the crowds.

This includes the 2018 Northwich Festival of Arts which will celebrate creativity and local artists, while Northwich In Bloom is set to transform the town with colour.

Planning is also under way for their summer and Christmas Extravaganzas with the challenge of increasing 2017’s impressive footfall figures on event days.Learn more about the Northwich Business Improvement District by visiting their new website: https://northwichbid.co.uk/

The Northwich Business Improvement District’s (BID) social media accounts continue to grow, helping the organisation to promote the town to more people than ever before.

At the beginning of May, the Visit Northwich Facebook page reached over 6000 likes, while the Twitter and Instagram accounts maintain steady organic growth.

With multiple posts published on a daily basis across all platforms, the BID utilise social media to promote products, offers and updates from the town’s businesses, raise awareness of Northwich’s amazing leisure and heritage attractions and inform people of any events taking place in the town.

Facebook in particular proved a key platform earlier in the year, when

the BID launched the Northwich Independents campaign to promote the town’s unique retailers with a view to driving additional footfall.

Northwich BID Officer Mark Henshaw was pleased with the levels of interaction on Facebook from the campaign and believes the growth of the social media accounts provides a great platform for promoting future events.“With over 50,000 unique video views, a total reach of over 116,000 and over 10,000 clicks, it was one of our most effective campaigns to date. The interactions also led to a jump in the page’s number of followers which is one of our ongoing objectives.

“There are numerous events coming to Northwich over the summer too which we will be actively promoting and we now have an excellent platform for

Northwich to be in bloom this summermarketing them.”

Away from Facebook, the BID has also grown the Visit Northwich Instagram account which currently has over 1,000 followers. Shining a spotlight on the town’s beautiful heritage, countryside and structures, it’s a great way of letting people know just what Northwich has to offer and make it stand out as a destination with a difference.

Check out the accounts for yourself today by following the links below.

Visit Northwich Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/visitnorthwich/

Visit Northwich Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/visitnorthwich/

Northwich BID Twitter - https://twitter.com/NorthwichBID

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REVIVE & THRIVE’S

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Fill our Place Magazine with all the details about your business and as much promotion as you want to include.

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Revive & Thrive are also inviting professionals looking for a new position or new contract to submit CVs for Revive & Thrive to hold on record for new opportunities. This service will ensure that you are at the front of the queue and are signposted to relevant inbound calls looking for suitable candidates. Additionally, Revive & Thrive will promote 500 words and a downloadable CV about the professional through the website. Place Magazine, 30,000 contact reach and regular mail outs.

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REVIVE & THRIVE’S

Mei Pan, Owner of Bournemouth’s yobu Bubble Tea and Frozen Yogurt Café, offers her advice to other businesses and start-ups in the town centre.

Since opening her colourful café in 2015, local Business Owner Mei Pan has built a successful and recognisable brand in the heart of Bournemouth’s Town Centre. Originally from Taiwan, Mei attributes her success to Bournemouth’s growing reputation as an international town, her efforts to exceed customer expectations, plus collaboration with the Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID).

Prior to setting up in Bournemouth, Mei worked in the pharmaceutical industry in 6 countries, travelling to over 60 different countries worldwide. Moving to Ringwood in 2010, she was inspired to launch her own cafe selling Taiwanese bubble tea. She also combined her idea with selling frozen yogurt, creating the name “yobu” as an amalgamation of her two star products. Extremely popular, her bubble tea is served in a host of different flavours. Customers also have the option to add a wide variety of toppings such as popping juice balls, tapioca balls or flavoured jellies to customise their drink. Complementing this, her frozen yogurt offers a healthy dessert alternative.

Sharing the keys to her success, Mei undertook extensive research when scouting out locations for her new business venture. Recognising its potential, she selected Bournemouth because of its reputation as an international city with a dynamic business community, growing student presence, renowned University and vibrant tourism sector.Mei, comments: “It was a huge challenge setting up a business from scratch, however doing so has taught me a lot of useful business lessons. Firstly, do your research and find a location

Town Centre BID – Bubble Tea Café Owner Shares Secrets of Success

which can help you reach your target market. For me, Bournemouth has been perfect with its abundance of students, families and international visitors. The real secret to success, however, is to identify a niche in the market and do something different. Bringing Bubble Tea from my home in Taiwan has certainly provided this.’’

Mei continues: “It’s also important to go the extra mile to exceed customer expectations. At yobu, we treat everyone as friends and our staff always write down the names of customers on their cups, so they can build a personal connection and get to know them. Small personal touches like this really help to encourage customer loyalty. Social media has been incredibly important. We encourage customers to promote yobu on our behalf and share their drinks on social media. An excellent promotional tool; make sure to establish your business’s presence online.’’

Furthermore, to achieve success Mei encourages other owners to work in collaboration with local businesses and organisations. Mei works proactively with Bournemouth University, attending fresher’s fairs and providing business advice talks at local colleges to help promote yobu whilst inspiring budding young entrepreneurs. Yobu has benefitted from a collaboration with Bournemouth Arts University students too who produced an attractive mural covering the walls of the café’s downstairs lounge area.

Mei has also found working with the Town Centre BID advantageous. Mei comments: “I first became aware of the Bournemouth Town Centre BID following

a visit from the Town Centre Rangers. Communicating and linking local businesses, the Rangers are a familiar face around town. They keep us up to speed on what’s going on in the town centre and collect data on what issues are affecting us. The BID also supports a range of events to help Bournemouth compete as a tourist destination. Last year I made excellent use of their stand at the Bournemouth Food & Drink Festival, which was free to use for levy payers. It really helped me to increase awareness for my business.’’

Situated in Gervis Place, Mei places great emphasis on choosing the right staff to work at yobu. She recommends regular one-to-one training and coaching to ensure that all staff are friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. A testament to her success, yobu is popular amongst families, students and young adults who can chill in the café’s relaxed environment. Last year yobu received their 2017 TripAdvisor Certificate Of Excellence.Looking ahead, Mei now plans to open additional stores and franchise the business in the future.Paul Kinvig, Manager of Bournemouth Town Centre BID, said:

“A wonderful local success story, Mei has plenty of experience to offer other local businesses and entrepreneurs who are setting up shop in Bournemouth’s town centre. We’re proud to have helped support yobu over the years and look forward to seeing their continued expansion.’’

For further information about the Bournemouth Town Centre BID, visit www.towncentrebid.co.uk

The award-winning Colmore BID Business Improvement District has begun consulting more than 500 companies about what it should prioritise for its third five-year term if successfully renewed by ballot later this year.

Colmore Business District is now established as the commercial heart of Birmingham, with over 35,000 employees and over 5 million square feet of office space.

The BID was created in 2009 to generate a thriving, nationally-recognised business community around the Colmore Row area of Birmingham city centre with new projects, public realm creation, security and ambassadorial roles, and a programme of engaging events such as the annual Colmore Food Festival.

The BID is now contacting levy payers and hosting informal workshops to refine the ideas and proposals it is putting forward and in October 2018, the BID will be asking businesses to vote ‘yes’ for its third term.

Over the last five years the BID has leveraged £10 million from an investment of £1.4 million in the District’s public ream; an ROI of over 700 per cent.

The BID has held hundreds of events attended by over 1,500 people and Colmore Food Festival, the BID’s showpiece celebration of the best food and drink in the city, attracts 30,000 visitors each year.

Other achievements include a deep clean of over 45,500m2 of streets in the District – equivalent to more than six football pitches – and 280 floral features across the area. The BID also pays for

Colmore BID consults members about a third term for Birmingham’s Business District

100 Christmas decorations to bring seasonal colour to the area each year.The BID’s Ambassadors and Security Team interacts daily with visitors and workers, reports incidents of messy pavements and broken paving slabs and abandoned street-works furniture. The Security Team has tackled over 3,500 incidents of anti-social behaviour.Colmore BID has won a series of awards for Church Street Square, Colmore Square, the #NicklinUnseen photography exhibition and an RHS Chelsea Flower 2015 award for the floral feature in Birmingham Cathedral GroundsFor Colmore BID’s third five-year term it is proposing to collect a levy of 1.5% on Business Rates. This will generate over £5 million of additional, business-led investment into the District. Earlier this year, the Boards of both Colmore BID and Paradise also agreed that the landmark new development would join Colmore Business District.

“We’ve been listening to our members on how we can continue to ensure our area is the beating heart of business in Birmingham, and we are proposing to build a better District by extending the planned civilising street programme – to create new places for people to meet and relax,” said Michele Wilby, Executive Director, Colmore BID.

“We will develop a business-led solution to reducing freight and delivery vehicles entering Colmore Business District and continue to lead on projects such as the Snow Hill Masterplan and influence regeneration plans for the District to ensure strong connections to the HS2 station at Curzon Street.

“We will tackle poorly-maintained pavements with Birmingham City Council, and ensure paving is regularly cleaned and well maintained and support city-wide action on

homelessness by backing the West Midlands Mayor’s programme.”

The BID is also proposing to install ‘Parklets’, creating new micro-spaces for people to sit and enjoy and construct a digital screen for Colmore Square, with content produced and curated by BID members.

An expansion of activity dedicated to people working within the District is also being proposed, through physical activity such as running clubs and the Community Games, social groups like Colmore Chorus or new urban gardening clubs and wellbeing events like yoga or inspirational after-work talks and discussion groups.

“We will promote the District as an ideal inward investment destination through national and international PR, targeting potential new businesses from existing and new sectors to improve the District’s resilience and attractiveness,” added Michele.

“As one of the UK’s top Business Improvement Districts, we will be continuing our current work and adding new, ambitious projects to enhance the District.

“This is just a snapshot of Colmore BID’s achievements since 2009, and our ambitions for 2019 onwards.“Our priorities are to build a better District, deliver great events, engage and grow our community and build a safe and Clean Colmore Business District.”

If you would like to participate or have any questions about the Business Improvement Districts renewal process, please contact Michele Wilby on michele.wilby@colmorebid.co.uk

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Michala Kellard moves into the role after nine years as a response officer with Cheshire Police.

A new licensing officer has been appointed by Cheshire Police to help support Chester’s night-time economy and manage pub and bar licensing applications within the city centre.

Michala Kellard has stepped into the role after nine years as a response officer operating within the city centre and will now work closely with the city’s pubs, bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

The job will also see Michala working in partnership with key organisations such as CH1ChesterBID, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Chester Pubwatch and other local groups, promoting safety and helping to maintain the city’s recently secured Purple Flag status.

Michala said: “I’m thrilled to be stepping into a new role within the city centre and I think it’s a really exciting time to be involved in promoting and protecting the reputation of Chester’s day and night-time economy.

New licensing officer appointed within Chester city centre

“I’ve worked in the city for almost a decade and I’m also a local resident, so I’ve built up a lot of knowledge of the challenges and opportunities that exist at a local level and will be using all of that experience to help me in this new role.

“One of my main priorities as the new licensing officer is to continue working proactively with the range of partners and businesses in the city centre to ensure it continues to be a safe, enjoyable and welcoming place for everyone.”

The role of licensing officer has been established in Chester city centre for several years and Michala’s appointment follows the retirement of Pete Goring, who previously occupied the role for more than a decade.

Nick White, City Centre Manager for CH1ChesterBID, said: “Michala’s appointment as the new licensing officer is wonderful news for the city centre and we’re confident she will build on all the good work that has come before her.

“A lot of effort went in to achieving Purple Flag status from us and a whole range of other partners including

Cheshire Police, who have been a key player throughout that process. That’s why it’s really important we continue working closely together to maintain our new accreditation and to continue making improvements that benefit city visitors and local residents.

“We’re already looking at a range of new initiatives with Michala and her team to encourage even higher standards across the pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants in the city centre and we’re hoping to introduce some of these within the next few months.”

Sergeant Alex Jackson from Cheshire Police, added: “Michala has worked as a frontline officer for all her service within Chester and I’m delighted to welcome her to the team with all the experience she has.

“I know that, working together with our partners, we can make Chester an even more enjoyable and safe location to visit, live and work.”

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All of Revive & Thrive membership subscriptions help to fund Revive & Thrive’s activities including the valuable yearly challenges, the Talking Towns Events and Annual Conference, Place Magazine and promotion of the Expert Panel. We are very grateful for the ongoing and fast growing support of the

membership.

However, our Corporate Advocates take support to the next level. Their sponsorship and support enables us to keep our charges low or free across

every service that we offer.

Our Corporate Advocates ensure that support and solutions are available to communities and places of all sizes whatever opportunities and challenge they

are experiencing and whatever budget they possess.

Thank you for your support and we are proud to introduce our current Advocates and Sponsors.

Presenting Revive & Thrive’s Corporate

Advocates

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© 2018 Revive & Thrive

We want to hear stories about your place!

Submission deadline for articles for Issue #24 of Place Magazine:

15th June

Contact us at enquiries@reviveandthrive.co.uk