Falmouth BID Updates

Falmouth for Business Initiative

Richard Wilcox, Falmouth BID Manager

Many of you will have seen the new wallpaper designs on the ex Bon Marche site that celebrate our vibrant local business scene while proactively tidying up a vacant unit as we have done several times before. This is one strand of a wider Falmouth for Business initiative just launched that seeks to do several things but in essence – celebrate what we have while working hard to attract more investment into Falmouth.  If you would like to see some of the business images taken do visit the Celebrating our Businesses page here.   We aim to take a selection of these images on a roadshow – starting locally in The Poly for a 2 week exhibition 21 Jan -4 Jan 2013 before taking it further afield. The reason is as I say is to do all we can to celebrate and showcase the vibrant, good quality businesses we have here.

Falmouth projects online

The wide range of projects now delivered by the Famouth BID are available online. Do feel free to have a browse here – FALMOUTH BID PROJECTS. Download the BID business plans, read about the projects delivered under the four BID Priority areas that aim to help support businesses and drive forward Falmouth.

Letter from Sec of State

I have now received a reply back from the Sec of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin. To recap, BID sent a letter to him regards the vital rail link between London and Cornwall requesting that any future rail franchise recognises its important role in the economic vitality of the region and the need for faster, more efficient services. Mr McLoughlin has confirmed that the issues raised will form part of future discussions (which have been put on hold pending the outcome of reviews into the West Coast Line Franchise process fiasco).

Special Offers Section

I’m working with the Visitor Information Centre to put together a special offers page on the homepage of the www.falmouth.co.uk to further support businesses especially as we come into perhaps a quieter period of the year. This isn’t restricted to accommodation providers. All BID businesses can submit an offer/promotion – cafes, restaurants, retail outlets etc. Bearing in mind as I’ve mentioned several times, that the BID funded Falmouth.co.uk is now the main site for the area with over 25,000 unique hits per month, this is another excellent opportunity for you. Can I ask you contact Nicola Kneebone nicola@falriver.co.uk who is coordinating on my behalf with any info. We will then take a look at it.

High St Taskforce
I thought you may be interested to read about the High St taskforce that has been established (one of Mary Portas’s recommendation in her High Street Review) – HIGH ST TASKFORCE.

HMS Bounty
On a much more sombre note, the tall-ship replica HMS Bounty that visited Falmouth last year, sank in mountainous Atlantic seas yesterday, a victim of Hurricane Sandy. Thoughts and prayers to those affected.