Barrhead Town Centre Business Improvement District Information event Project Co-ordinator Laura Molloy 21 st September 2015.

Barrhead Town Centre Business Improvement District

Information eventProject Co-ordinator

Laura Molloy21st September 2015

Meet the Steering Group

Paul Santi (Chairperson) New Yorker

Sara Park-Patterson (Vice Chairperson) Bluestone Design

Diane Allan ASDABud Gauld The Brig InnJohn Park Scott's StoresJeanette Park-Patterson Bluestone Design

Doreen Rennick Knitting Bee

Shirley Robison Barrhead Housing Association

David Irvine Westbourne CentreBrian MacMillan F & M HairdressersLiz Sutherland Boots

BID Information - General

• There are 31 BIDs operating across Scotland each running for a period of five years.

• Clarkston, Giffnock, Paisley, Byres Road are all examples of local BID’s with Clarkston just voted to renew.

• The BID does not replace local authority but pays for additional local benefits decided on by local businesses and proposed in a business plan.

• If successful, the Steering Group will stand down, a new BID company created and a BID manager recruited.

• The BID is supported by East Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce whose Directors will be on the established BID’s Board.

• There is a helpful FAQs page on www.allaboutbarrhead.co.uk with links to BID’s Scotland website.

BID Information - Levy

• The BID levy is the financial resource to get things done and is fair as it is set against the rateable value of a property.

• Each business liable to pay the BID levy will be able to vote on whether or not the BID goes ahead by reading the proposed business plan.

• Once set, the levy remains fixed for the full five years of the Business Plan

BID Information - Ballot

• A successful ballot is dependant on…• minimum turnout (the headcount) of 25% of the individual persons entitled to vote• minimum turnout by rateable value of the properties of 25%• more than 50% by turnout and by rateable value of the properties vote in favour.

• We aim to issue ballot papers next March and you will have 6 weeks to vote before the ballot closes.

• If successful, the Steering Group will stand down, a new BID company created and a BID manager recruited.

• The BID is supported by East Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce whose Directors will be on the established BID’s Board.

• There is a helpful FAQs page on www.allaboutbarrhead.co.uk with links to BID’s Scotland website.

Communications

We have created the following communications to tell people about the BIDOnline

www.allaboutbarrhead.co.ukFacebook.com/allaboutbarrheadTwitter.com/BarrheadBID

By postPostcardsNewslettersSurveys

PressBarrhead News

Consultations To Date

The steering group have spoken to 90 town centre businesses and noted a verbal preference of 15% against and 85% in favour.

13 x no 77 x yes

We have carried out two separate written surveys so far with a total of 63 unique businesses replying.

Survey 1

54 returned with 65% in favour at that early stage. 4 x no 15 not stated 35 x yes

Survey 2

June – July Independent survey. 100 shoppers and posted surveys to 163 businesses.

33 businesses returned with 86% in favour, 11% not in favour, and 3% unsure. 4 x no 1 x unsure 28 x yes

Survey 1 Results

Businesses want issues on parking improvements and how to increase footfall tackled most of all.

Collaboration on activities such as talking to ER Council, reducing costs and access to funding, improving the marketing of the town and solving the Cross Arthurlie and Main St split is desirable.

Issues Score Total score

Parking 24Transport 1

Footfall 12Out of town competition 10

Need for local shopping 2Variety of shops 7Lack of retail development 1Empty shops 1

Rates/ water 5Overheads/ costs 1Business funding 5

Collabration between businesses

1

East RenfrewshireCouncil 3Main St/ Cross Arthurlie split 3Unemployment 2Marketing 1Lack of licensing 1

Drugs/ anti social behaviour 4Lack of police 1Safety 1Safe roads 1

Cleanliness 4Water/ River way 1Poor signage 1Festive lighting 1

Appeal 7

7Safety

Costs 11

Working together

11

Parking and Access

25

Footfall 22

Shopping Offer

11

Survey 2 - businesses

• THE LOOK AND FEEL OF BARRHEAD• Most popular ideas

• improve parking in the town centre (82%)• shop-front improvement scheme to clean up and improve shabby buildings /

shops (71%).

Survey 2 - businesses

• EVENTS AND FESTIVALS• Most popular ideas

• farmer’s market and similar (35%)• food festival (35%)• local sports festival (33%).

Survey 2 - businesses

• SUPPORTING BUSINESSES• Most popular ideas

• grant scheme for property improvements/equipment purchase (52%)• grant scheme for marketing/training/consultancy support (43%)• bulk buying amongst local businesses of things like water, energy and waste

services (45%).

Survey 2 - businesses

• MARKETING BARRHEAD• Most popular ideas

• more public relations activity about the good things about Barrhead (60%)• active use of social media to promote Barrhead (57%)• local website for Barrhead town centre businesses (51%).

Survey 2 - businesses

• BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY• Most popular ideas

• campaigns to encourage the local community to 'shop local' (77%)• working in partnership with local schools and other organisations to help

school children and job seekers become better prepared for the workplace (57%)

• engaging the local community in efforts to improve the area such as area clean-ups and shop-front dressing (57%).

Survey 2 - businesses

• BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY• Most popular ideas

• campaigns to encourage the local community to 'shop local' (77%)• working in partnership with local schools and other organisations to help

school children and job seekers become better prepared for the workplace (57%)

• engaging the local community in efforts to improve the area such as area clean-ups and shop-front dressing (57%).

Survey 2 - shoppers

How shoppers use Barrhead Town Centre

• Shopping (77%) and using local services (45%) are the key reasons for people visiting Barrhead.

• 97% visit Barrhead weekly or more often

• Average spend per visit £31.59.

Survey 2 - shoppers

• Top 3 things are• specific shops (71%)• convenience of the local shops and services that they use (53%)• specific facilities (35%).

• Worst 3 things are • the range and type of shops and services (47%)• undesirable people and feeling of safety (47%)• environmental issues (13%).

• Top 3 factors to encourage more visits• wider mix of shops and services (50%)• events (41%)• safer and more secure environment (32%).

Survey 2 - shoppers

• Travel to town centre • on foot (39%)• by bus (29%) • by car as a driver (22%).

• Highly rated for• accessibility (96% rating as good or very good)• takeaway food (96%)• range of local services (95%).

• Lowest ratings for• the range of shopping for goods (42%)• cleanliness (58%)• sit-in food and drink (61%) • overall appearance (66%).

Survey 2 - shoppers

• Reasons for visit• day-to-day “top up” shopping for things like bread, milk and other grocery items (90%)• services such as banks, post offices, doctors, dentists etc. (85%) • meeting friends for coffee, a meal or a chat (61%).

• Respondents shop elsewhere for;• large items - Paisley (23% using as their main location) and online (26%); • speciality items - Glasgow City Centre (20%) and Paisley (18%);• Use of services - Paisley (4%) and Glasgow City Centre (3%);• Day-to-day “top up” shopping’ - Paisley (3%);• Meeting friends for coffee, a meal or a chat - Glasgow City Centre (19%).

Survey 2 - shoppers

• Initiatives most likely to be rated as very beneficial are• events and festivals to attract people to Barrhead (79%)• improvements to the look and feel of the area (65%)• support, encouragement and financial help for community businesses / social enterprises

(58%).

• Top 3 ideas perceived to be of most benefit to Barrhead are • events and festivals to attract people to Barrhead (62%)• businesses working in partnership with local schools and other organisations to help school

children become better prepared for the workplace (36%) • improvements to the look and feel of the area (33%).

Barrhead Christmas FayreSat 28th Nov 2015

Project Plan

Date & Timings • Saturday 28th September 2015 event start 1pm with Santa switching

on Christmas tree lights at 5pm.Budget • Total budget £8000 to be paid by ERC to allow BID to showcase what

it can do

Project Plan

Target audience • Barrhead residents for attendees• Town Centre businesses for involvement What is format /theme? • Christmas Fayre. How do local businesses get involved at the event or by increased footfall? • a] volunteer • b] take a stall

Project Plan

• Tesco site • Fairground in ½ car park at end

• Parade 5pm• Santa to arrive in Sleigh (borrowed from Neilston Development Trust)• Pipe band to accompany Santa

• Neilston Pipe Band Ian MacDonald.• Train station car park – Cross Arthurlie St – Main St• Switch on Christmas tree lights in Community space at Asda.

Project Plan

• Asda site• Santa’s Grotto - Potential for Eastwood Rotary Club to supply

• Stalls • Musical entertainment stage

• Small stage for local school choirs, dance groups, bands• Pulse 98.4fm to MC

• Christmas Tree• Locate in landscaped area in community space – Asda grant application• Santa switching on as finale

• Activities• Owls/ reindeer• Inflatable• Face painter• Balloon artist• Rickshaws

Volunteers required

Task Volunteer

Event Management 3 brief sent out

ERC/ Bins Barriers etc Laura Molloy

Marketing

Marketing Paul Santi

Santa parade

Stalls Sara Park Patterson

Stalls

Entertainment – suppliers Doreen Rennick

Entertainment – Stage

Cross Arthurlie St treasure hunt