Inverness BID Launches ‘GULL WATCH’ Campaign to Strengthen Incident Reporting
Inverness BID has today launched its new ‘GULL WATCH’ campaign,…
Let’s come together and celebrate the fantastic range of independent businesses in the City Centre that make Inverness unique!
Over the two days the independent businesses will be offering a variety of different promotions/giveaways to encourage you to visit their business. All the offers will be uploaded to the Facebook event page (click the logo above) up until the event dates.
October 2018 Small Business Focus in the Inverness Courier
We need to be prepared for the next industrial revolutions pros and cons.
Inverness BID Task Team have concluded their Summer Season on 1 September 2018 and will no longer be available to respond to calls for service from Businesses until they return to active duty on a date as yet to be announced later in the year.
Should you require assistance in response to incidents please contact Police Scotland direct on 101 or in an emergency 999, or other relevant. For other matters please contact Inverness BID during Office Hours on 01463 714550.
Celebrating The 2018 Inverness City Centre Floral Displays
Inverness BID Manager Mike Smith said “We are delighted to continue to receive so many positive comments from residents, visitors and businesses alike as to the blaze of colour that this year’s 750 floral displays gives to the city centre.
Maintaining the quality of the displays has been a challenge this year given the wet and windy weather when the displays were at their most fragile, when they went out at the beginning of June. And of course more recently we have had to overcome the extremely dry conditions over the past month. Particular credit should be given to the watering crew who have been out on a nightly basis in the past month.
Since BID was formed in 2008 we have co-ordinated of the annual floral project working in partnership with the Inverness Common Good Fund (the main funders of the project) and High Life Highland’s staff at the Botanical Gardens are responsible creating and maintaining the wonderful displays.”
Provost of Inverness Area Cllr Helen Carmichael said: “Inverness Councillors are delighted to support the creation of the floral displays in our city centre through the provision of £57,800 Inverness Common Good Funding to Inverness BID’s project.
While Inverness is a naturally attractive city centre with the River Ness and stunning environment, the addition of summer floral displays provides a stunning display for visitors and locals during our main tourist season.”
Ian Murray Chief Executive of High Life Highland said “We are delighted to be able to continue supporting the floral project again this year by growing the plants in the nursery at Inverness Botanic gardens. The results on display in the beautiful summer hanging baskets across the city are fantastic, providing colour and enhancing the city for visitors and residents.”
Wednesday 4th of July saw the 1000th coach of the season use the designated coach drop off/pick up facility on Ardross Street. The Coopers Tourmaster coach had picked up a group of German visitors from Edinburgh airport on Saturday 30th June for a 7 day tour around the Highlands.
The above photo shows coach driver James McGrath being presented with a certificate by BID Coach Ambassador, Garry Munro along with Lord Andreas who is the company’s senior Tour Guide.
In 2017 the 11 bay Councillor approved coach drop off/pick up point on Ardross Street was used by more than 2,240 visitor coaches – an increase of 18% on the 2016 figure (1900) which was itself 20% up on the previous year from 1580.
So far in 2018 (5.7) there has been a further 13% increase in the number of coaches using the facility.
The Coach Ambassador Scheme was set up at the request of the Highland Council and Inverness BID agreed to staff and manage the scheme initially on the basis of the costs being fully funded by the Inverness Common Good Fund.
This involved having a Coach Ambassador to welcome coaches and visitors on a 7-day basis increasing to 2 or 3 ambassadors when an increased number of coaches from large cruise liners were due to come to Inverness.
Such has been the success of the welcome offered, the numbers of coaches accommodated and the effective management of the street, that following a joint BID/HC application, in October 2016 Inverness was awarded ‘Coach Friendly’ status by The Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT) in recognition of “the commitment made by Inverness to meet the needs of coaches, their drivers and their passengers to the city centre”. We are only the second venue in Scotland to be so designated.
On 23rd August 2017 we had the highest ever one day total of 54 coaches use the facility up from the previous figure of 42.
(Published 4th June by The Highland Council)
Plans for the purchase of a significant site on the southern side of Inverness’ Bridge Street were unveiled by The Highland Council today. The purchase, announced by Mrs Margaret Davidson, Leader of The Highland Council, and Mr Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity, will support the development of Inverness Castle and the regeneration of the surrounding area of the city centre.
The development of Inverness Castle – spirit of the Highlands is a vital part of the regeneration of Inverness city centre and will be a gateway for Highland tourism. It will support economic growth in the city and throughout the Highland area. The vision for the new attraction is to create a sustainable, viable and “must-see” attraction that will celebrate the spirit of the Highlands.
The Inverness Castle project forms part of the Inverness and Highland City-Region deal which is a joint initiative supported by up to £315m investment from the UK and Scottish governments, The Highland Council, HIE and University of the Highlands and Islands, aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth.
The purchase price for the site (located on the southern side of Bridge Street, Inverness) is made up of borrowing by The Highland Council and a contribution of £1.5m from Scottish Government (through Inverness and Highland City Region Deal).
Mrs Margaret Davidson, Leader of The Highland Council, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be able to make this important announcement today. The Highland Council has agreed to purchase this site, given its importance for the economic growth of both Inverness and the Highlands. This has been a long-held ambition and I would like to thank those involved in making this a reality.
“With support from Scottish Government through the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, we are ensuring the Highland economy benefits from tourism for the long term. This purchase will help us to achieve our vision for this iconic site and Inverness Castle’s place as part of a range of tourism assets this region has to offer. Together with partners, we will be consulting with the community and stakeholders about the options for developing the site in the months to come.”
Rural Economy Secretary Mr Fergus Ewing said:
“I am delighted to be making this announcement today. It marks the culmination of a key part of four years of collaborative work between the Scottish Government, The Highland Council and our public bodies. Inverness Castle is a key project within the £135 million invested by Scottish Government as part of the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal, which will continue to deliver significant long-term benefits not only for the region, but to the future prosperity and economic growth of Scotland as a whole.
“This will create a once in a generation opportunity for future redevelopment for the city and the Highlands to create something special of high architectural value – precisely the opposite of the existing buildings. £1.5 million of the Scottish Government’s City Region Deal investment will be used to fund the redevelopment of Upper Bridge Street which marks another important step in turning Inverness Castle into an attraction of international importance that both the people of Inverness and the Highlands more widely can be proud of. The Scottish Government has supported the proposal from the outset and will continue to do so.”
Mr Ian Ross, Vice-Chair, High Life Highland, said:
“As part of the Inverness Castle – spirit of the Highlands project, High Life Highland is delighted that this purchase signals a significant step in the development of Castle from its current use as a court house to a visitor attraction. We are pleased to be working as part of a team of organisations throughout the Highlands and beyond to design and create a must-see visitor attraction that celebrates the spirit of the Highlands – past, present and future, including its creativity, well-being, culture, heritage and natural environment.”
City Centre Businesses Vote Overwhelmingly in Favour of New BID 5 Year Term
Following 6 weeks of voting the result of the formal Ballot for a third 5 year term for the Inverness Business Improvement District was announced today by the Highland Council with 79% the City Centre businesses voting in favour of continuing BID for a further 5 years to 31st March 2023.
In March 2008 Inverness BID was the first Business Improvement District to be created in Scotland and is now one of 38 operational BIDs with another 21 in development.
BID Chairman, Peter Strachan said “I am delighted with today’s result which is a major endorsement for the work that BID has undertaken over the past 5 years and reconfirms our remit to work on behalf of the City Centre businesses”.
“BID’s mission for the City Centre continues to be to deliver a series of projects and services to improve the trading environment of Inverness City Centre to the benefit of the City Centre economy, the levy paying businesses, their customers, clients and visitors.”
“Prior to the start of the ballot we engaged with the businesses to ascertain their priorities and these are incorporated in the BID Business Plan 2018-23. Thus our focus for the next 5 years will continue to be to work to improve the economy of the City Centre and its businesses through:
•Marketing the City Centre – attracting people to a vibrant and thriving City Centre
•Enhancing the City Centre – enhancing the experience & fabric for visitors and residents alike
•Engaging & Championing the City Centre – engaging and championing the City Centre and its businesses
•Safe & Welcoming the City Centre – essential the BID area is viewed as safe & secure”
A GREAT LOSS
It is with great sadness that we have been informed that BID Director, Bill Fraser of Duncan Fraser & Son Butcher passed away on Saturday morning in Raigmore Hospital.
Bill, who had his 90th birthday last August was always a big supporter of Inverness City Centre. He was Provost of Inverness from 1992-1996 and a Director of BID since 2008.
Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.
Funeral arrangements to follow.
95 city centre businesses were finalists in the eleven categories and the following winners were announced:
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Begg Shoes & Bags
Duncan Fraser & Son Butcher
Hastie & Dyce
WINNER 2018
Isle of Skye Candle Company
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Boots
Waterstones
WINNER 2018
Lush
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Ginger
Rouge
WINNER 2018
Cafferys
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Next
TK Maxx
WINNER 2018
Primark
HIGHLY COMMENDED
British Heart Foundation
Highland Hospice
WINNER 2018
New Start Highland
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Cafe One
Rajah
WINNER 2018
The Mustard Seed
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Pizza Express
Zizzi’s
WINNER 2018
Bella Italia
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Lettuce Eat
Miele’s Gelateria
WINNER 2018
Harry Gow
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Subway
WINNER 2018
McDonald’s
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Gorgeous Hair & Beauty
Paul Mulvaney Salon
The Therapy Suite
WINNER 2018
Sleeping Beauty Salon
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Bank of Scotland
MacLeod & MacCallum
WINNER 2018
Citizens Advice Bureau
Inverness BID has today launched its new ‘GULL WATCH’ campaign,…
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