February Small Business Focus Feature in Inverness Courier

This month’s Small Business Focus in the Inverness Courier features Scott Murray of CRU Holdings who own businesses in the city centre including Bar One, Scotch & Rye and The Keg as well as others in the area.

You can READ IT HERE.

• Posted on February 17th, 2018 in Uncategorised

Inverness BID launches 5 year Business Plan

The Inverness City Centre Business Improvement District today (6.2.18) launched its 5 year Business Plan for a third term 2018-2023 which will be circulated to 632 city centre businesses (liable to pay BID levy) by the Highland Council on Thursday 8th February along with voting papers for the Renewal Ballot. Download a copy of the Business Plan HERE

Drawing together four key themes which have been designed to address the needs of the city centre businesses, the plan builds on BID’s very successful current term which expires at the end of March this year.

The key themes were developed after a consultation with all the city centre businesses in Autumn 2017.

At that time 94% of the businesses that responded to the consultation said they would support a new BID term in the forthcoming ballot.

The four key themes in the BID Business Plan 2018-23 are:

Marketing the City Centre – attracting people to a vibrant and thriving City Centre

Enhancing the City Centre – improving the Inverness experience for visitors & residents alike

Engaging & Championing the City Centre – working as a strong voice for businesses and,

Safe & Welcoming City Centre – making sure that the BID Area is viewed as Safe and Secure

Business Improvement Districts have a maximum project term of 5 years but can be extended by a formal ballot of levy paying businesses. Organised by the Highland Council the ballot runs from 8th February to 22nd March with the result being announced on Friday 23rd March.

Speaking about the launch of the Business Plan, BID Chairman Peter Strachan said,

“The Inverness BID Board is pleased to present our exciting new Business Plan for the next 5 year term. The plan is the result of an extensive consultation with our city centre businesses and really reflects their views on what they are looking for BID to do in the next term building on our successes and ensuring that Inverness is a great place to visit and do business.

I’m delighted that the Highland Council has endorsed the plan and will be voting in favour of a further 5 year term in the Ballot.

On behalf of the BID Directors I look forward to the opportunity for BID to be extended and to deliver on the key themes into the next term.”

• Posted on February 7th, 2018 in Uncategorised

15 MINUTES FREE PARKING IS NOW LIVE

Motorists are advised by The Highland Council that the 15 minute FREE parking is now in place as a trial over the next 12 months at the 7 parking bay locations listed below.

To qualify for the FREE 15 minutes parking (& to avoid penalty charges) motorists MUST display a ticket from the parking meter, located near the parking bays.

★Ardross Street, Inverness

★Castle Street, Inverness

★Church Street, Inverness

★Hill Place, Inverness

★Huntly Street, Inverness

★Ness Bank , Inverness

★Ness Walk, Inverness

BID are delighted that the pilot is now underway after pushing for the 15 minute free city centre parking which was agreed by The Highland Council’s City of Inverness Area committee.

• Posted on January 17th, 2018 in Uncategorised

2017 BEST BAR NONE AWARDS ON MONDAY 8TH JANUARY

CONGRATULATIONS to the Inverness licensed premises who won awards at the 2017 Best Bar None Awards held in the Mercure Hotel on Monday 8th January.

Twenty-two venues were recognised under the Best Bar Scheme for their outstanding efforts in helping to create a safer environment for the public.

Each business that applied for accreditation under the Best Bar None scheme was visited by an independent assessor and judged on their efforts around the prevention of crime and disorder, and securing public safety.

Venues which demonstrated a passing score in all of the key criteria were allocated a bronze accreditation. Silver and gold accreditations were allocated to venues which went above and beyond to achieve the five objectives. Three Special Awards were also presented.

GOLD

• Johnny Foxes & The Den
• The Auctioneers
• The Exchange
• The Gellions
• R&B’s
• Club Tropicana & Vogue and Bar On Taylor’s Street
• The Caledonian
• Lauders Bar
• Monty’s Bar
• MacCallums
• The Chieftain Hotel
• The Kings Highway
• No 27
• 33 Church Street
• Scotch & Rye
• Bar One
• The Penta Hotel

SILVER

• The Gunsmiths
• Dows Bar & Bistro
• The Keg

BRONZE

• Hootananny
• Black Isle Bar

SPECIAL AWARDS

• Scotch & Rye – Best Newcomer
• Chieftain Hotel – Heart of the Community
• Johnny Foxes & The Den – Innovation in Social Responsibility

• Posted on January 10th, 2018 in Uncategorised