BID Business Focus 9.8.22
Today’s Business Comment in the Inverness Courier by the BID…
Today’s Business Comment in the Inverness Courier by the BID Director Lorraine Bremner McBride can be viewed here
Our monthly Person Behind the Business feature in the Inverness Courier this month features Mary Nimmo, senior partner at Munro & Noble Solicitors and Estate Agents on Church Street.
Your can read the article HERE
Our successful Small Business Focus for the month of July is Susan Young of Young’s Auld Sweetie Shop on Church Street.
A wonderful shop to browse around full of joy for children and happy memories for adults!
Susan tells her story behind the business through a series of Questions:
AULDS YOUNG SWEETIE SHOP BID QA JULY
Featured in the Inverness Courier on Tuesday 19th July 2022
Inverness BID are on the hunt for a new member of staff! We are looking for a Business Support & Engagement Officer to join our friendly team.
This new role is for 21 hours per week for a fixed term, until 31st of March 2023, and is based in the BID office at 17 Queensgate in Inverness City Centre.
For a detailed description of what this new position involves and to apply please download the documents below:
The Closing Date is Friday 29th July at 12 noon.
JOB DESCRIPTION & PERSON SPECIFICATION
PRIVACY NOTICE FOR JOB APPLICANTS
Alternatively, if you would like an application pack emailed or posted to you please send your request to info@inverness.uk.com
Five Public Access Defibrillators have been installed in Inverness city centre. The project to co-ordinate, purchase and install has been a collaboration project following three separate independent city businesses individually raising and donating funds to purchase and install the equipment. An initial approach to Inverness BID Ltd to assist them in their quest led to them enlisting the support of The Victorian Market, Highland Council, their Roads and Street Lighting departments, and the Inverness Common Good Fund, who agreed to purchase a further two complete units.
Each unit costs £1,750 and has been supplied by Lucky2BHere (Charity SCO41103) who are based in Portree, Skye.
Each of the following independent businesses contributed sufficient funds for the purchase and ongoing maintenance of a complete Defibrillator Unit and Cabinet each. A further two Units have been purchased by the Inverness Common Good Fund.
This strategic coverage of this vital lifesaving equipment for the city centre empowers and enables the community and businesses to manage a life-threatening situation, should the need arise. All units are registered with the Ambulance Service, and the supplying Lucky2BHere Charity, who can advise any 999 caller where they are located in an emergency, so that lifesaving action can be taken before medical personnel arrive.
The Defibrillator Units will be located at the following key locations chosen because of careful consideration of footfall and ease of access these being:
The Highland Council Roads and Street Lighting departments have co-ordinated the installation and electrical supply to these new units.
The sites that have been selected to cover the city centre effectively whereby should an incident arise access to a unit could be less than a minute away and are available to the public 24 hours a day contained within easily accessible hi-viz cabinets at key locations.
Quote Jo Murray, Victorian Market: “With the Victorian Market and the Town House being in such key sites within the city centre, surrounded by many types of businesses, residential buildings, and an attraction for tourists, it was obvious that we should have public access defibrillator units. We now have the comfort of knowing that we could manage a life-threatening situation quickly and effectively.”
Quote John McDonald, Inverness BID: “Our thanks must go to the individual local independent businesses who raised funds and provided corporate donations to finance the purchase of these lifesaving AED/PAD Unit, and I was delighted to get involved and play a part in co-ordinating the project with assistance from the Lucky2BHere Charity, and gaining the support of Highland Council, Inverness Common Good Fund, and the Victorian Market, to provide a further two fully equipped Defibrillator Units at strategic locations across the City Centre. The provision of this vital 24/7 accessible life saving devices will ensure that anyone suffering from cardiac arrest in our City centre will have the best opportunity for survival.”
Quote Charlie Munro on behalf of Duncan Fraser Butchers & John Munros Butchers: “Duncan Fraser and John Munro butchers are delighted to support the Inverness defibrillator project. Butchers are at the heart of the community, and whilst we hope they’re never needed it is comforting to know that these life-saving devices are always there and always ready.”
Quote Steven Hastie, Hastie & Dyce Butcher: “On behalf of the Management, Staff and all of our Customers, we at Hastie and Dyce are extremely pleased that we were able to sponsor this life saving equipment and contribute to this excellent project across the City Centre. It is an unfortunate reality that someone will require such medical assistance at some point on our City streets and the fact these will be accessible 24/7 at key locations will make a difference and hopefully save lives.”
Quote Ken Loades, Operations Manager, Cru Holdings Ltd: “Cru Holdings, who operate a number of City centre hospitality venues, are delighted to be able to contribute to this great initiative and we sincerely hope this unit never needs to be used, but should the time come it will be ready for action and available to all the community.”
With thanks to both BID Inverness and Lucky2Bhere for their everlasting support
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE with Inverness BID
Feature below in the Inverness Courier on Friday 8th July 2022 on our new BID Director Lorraine Bremner McBride and how she is hoping to help the city centre businesses.
Being inclusive, approachable, accountable, accessible, and effective are skills that her previous roles will allow her bring to her new role.
We are delighted to share this initiative from our friends at the Visit Inverness Loch Ness Tourism BID as we’re sure it will also be of interest to many city centre businesses:
As you know, Loch Ness is home to some of the best hiking in the world and attracts visitors from far and wide. Not only amazing for hiking, Inverness and Loch Ness offer a diverse destination in a stunning, natural landscape. Our visitors head off on their journeys, some long and some short, and it is unknown how they stay hydrated through their visitors in the area.
Instead of water fountains, a more sustainable and business friendly option is to top up tap water into our visitors bottles along both the Loch and in Inverness itself.
With that in mind the ‘Fresh Water Top Up’ aim is to introduce a sustainable project to allow individuals to top up their water supply whilst they are visiting with ease. The objectives are;
There are 2 project angles.
Aimed at accommodation providers – 1.
Aimed at Cafes, Shops & Restaurants – 2.
Each business taking part in either the accommodation provider scheme, or Loch Ness 360 scheme would receive the following;
If you would like to take part in the project and be one of the many contributing businesses of the Fresh Water Top Up scheme then please simply fill out THIS FORM so we have an accurate idea of where you are placed for our listing on the website.
We aim to launch the project by mid- July, and stickers and plaques will be sent out before the end of July for you to proudly place as a contributing business. The project is free, and the aim is simple- to make it even simpler for our visitors to enjoy themselves- both within the comfort of their accommodation and the great outdoors!
We look forward to hearing from you!
Visit Inverness Loch Ness
Lorraine Bremner McBride has been appointed as the new Inverness City Centre BID Director. Mrs Bremner McBride has worked extensively within the city centre for a number of years in both the private and third sectors, most recently with Inverness, Badenoch and Strathspey Citizens Advice Bureau as their Business Development Manager and also as the North Area Development Officer for Citizens Advice Scotland.
Inverness BID Chairman, Peter Strachan said ‘The BID Board is delighted that Lorraine has decided to join our organisation and we are excited to have her extensive knowledge, skills and local experience.”
Mrs Bremner McBride said ‘Inverness city centre is such a great place to live, work and visit. I am really looking forward to working closely with all our city centre businesses. One of my key priorities will be to further expand and develop our current programme following consultation with our key stakeholders to drive the economic sustainability and vibrancy of the area.’
Peter Strachan added “I’d also like to thank former BID Manager Mike Smith for his ongoing contribution to the city centre and we’re pleased that Mike has agreed to stay on as adviser to the BID Board.”
Scottish Building Society has underlined its commitment to the country’s high streets, as it opens the doors of its new-look Inverness Relationship Centre on Queensgate, representing a significant investment to the local area.
Paul Denton, CEO at Scottish Building Society, alongside members of the senior management team joined staff and local members to celebrate the refurbishment which has transformed the branch into a more welcoming and relaxed space.
Scottish Building Society has been a fixture in Inverness since 1986 and the new Relationship Centre features break out spaces with comfortable seating, as well as private meeting rooms where members can engage with staff to make important financial decisions.
As many high street banks reduce their physical locations, Scottish Building Society is bucking the trend and in recent years has invested more than £1m into new locations and refurbishments in its branches across the country, including Glasgow, Aberdeen and Troon.
Paul Denton, CEO at Scottish Building Society, said: “As the world’s oldest remaining building society with roots dating back to 1848, we are incredibly proud of our heritage and have remained true to our purpose since then. However, it is important that we continue to evolve as consumer habits and lifestyles change.
“We are aware that digital innovation has transformed how many of us bank, but we also know that our members still want to visit a physical branch and chat with somebody face-to-face. That’s why we have made such a significant investment into future-proofing our Relationship Centres and ensuring that our customers have an inviting place to visit to discuss important financial decisions.
“It was great to meet with our Inverness team and members and share what the future holds for Scottish Building Society, as we continue to provide a range of fantastic savings and mortgages to the people of Scotland and beyond.”
Our new promotional feature in the Inverness Courier Friday edition begins with a spotlight on Craig Duncan of McDonald’s.
Craig is the franchisee of 9 McDonald’s outlets including the restaurant on High Street.
Our new monthly article Person Behind the Business Presented by Inverness BID compliments the Small Business Focus by including business owners of multiple outlets as well as those of larger businesses.
You can read the full article HERE
Our monthly Person Behind the Business feature in the Inverness…
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