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UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 40 Dates for your diary Wednesday 25 January Technology Trends 5.30pm – 7.30pm in Ledcom, Bank Road Fourth seminar in free series for retailers It will delivered by Nick Martin, eBusiness Advisor within Invest NI. Details already circulated. RSVP to mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk or just come along on the night. Thursday 26 January NITB Masterclass – WorldHost Launch 9.30am – 16.10pm in Clandeboye Lodge Hotel, Bangor Over the next decade, Northern Ireland will host an impressive series of events including the Titanic Belfast Festival 2012, Clipper Maritime Festival, the World Police and Fire Games and the Derry~Londonderry UK City of Culture in 2013. This presents a unique opportunity for hospitality, tourism, leisure and retail business to showcase the best of Northern Ireland and increase sales by providing a warm welcome and impeccable service to visitors in Northern Ireland. To help business grow in NI, NITB is launching WorldHost customer service training programmes; learn how to avail of DEL funding opportunities for the WorldHost programmes. This is a free event but space is limited to places will be on a first come first served basis. To register your attendance, please click here. Northern Ireland Tourism Awards The Northern Ireland Tourism Awards 2012 competition presented in association with Diageo Northern Ireland is OPEN for business and we want to hear about YOUR success! We’ve made the entry process as simple as possible and there’s no fee to enter the awards. The award categories have huge scope so almost everyone should be able to enter the competition and you’re sure to find a category that is applicable to you. As a “Thank You” for entering the awards everyone who enters will be eligible to attend an event within the NITB Industry Development Next Level Programme 2012/2013 – free of charge! A brochure with full details on the award categories and how to enter is available by clicking here. Or you can simply click here to go to the competition web site. You need to act quickly to get your entry in before the closing date on 20 February 2012. Christmas 2011 – Business Survey Have you completed and returned the short survey circulated recently? (Copy attached). Feedback is welcomed and will help in designing future promotion and advertising campaigns. 16 January 2012 Town Development Office - 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 39 Way Forward on the Rating of Commercial Properties: Small Businesses, Large Retail Properties and Empty Retail Premises Following consultation, the Department of Finance and Personnel has issued an overview of the way forward – full information is attached. It includes: • 20% small business rate relief will be provided on eligible premises with a net annual value of £5,001 - £10,000, roughly doubling the level of overall help and increasing the number of recipients by around 50% under the main scheme. • A levy will apply to retail properties with a rateable value of £500,000 or more. Given a modest increase in available regional rates revenue the level of the large retail levy will be moderated. It will be set at 15% on average (a reduction of around £20,000 compared to the original 20% levy). • Where shop fronts or shop windows of empty retail premises are used for non-commercial purposes ratepayers will continue to receive 50% empty property relief (or an exclusion if applicable). • The above measures will apply for three years through to 31 March 2015. • To help get long term empty shops (retail premises empty for 12 months or more) back in business next year new occupiers will be allowed to retain 50% empty property relief for a year. The Portas Review Mary Portas’ independent review into the future of our high streets has now been published. It includes 28 recommendations including the following: • Put in place a “Town Team”: a visionary, strategic and strong operational management team for high streets • Establish a new “National Market Day” where budding shopkeepers can try their hand at operating a low-cost retail business • Government should consider whether business rates can better support small businesses and independent retailers • Address the restrictive aspects of the ‘Use Class’ system to make it easier to change the uses of key properties on the high street • Introduce Secretary of State “exceptional sign off” for all new out-of-town developments and require all large new developments to have an “affordable shops” quota • Run a number of High Street Pilots to test proof of concept While she was particularly focusing on England, there is much in her report which has relevance for town and city centres and their High Streets in NI. http://www.bis.gov.uk/news/topstories/2011/Dec/portas-review Dates for Your Diary Wednesday 11 January Forum Monthly Meeting This will be an evening for you to bring potential new members of the Forum along to find out what the Forum does and how it could help them and their business. Venue and full details to follow. Friday 13 January “Innovate or stagnate – how to grow a business during a recession” 8.30am to 9.30am at Willowbank Business Park with a free breakfast from 8.00am. Part of the Larne Vital Business Seminar Series The speaker will be Philip Bain of Shredbank. Philip won the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ competition in 2010 and was ‘Young Businessperson of the Year 2011’;he will reflect on the importance of marketing, selling, innovation and having a business model that works. This seminar is brought to you free by LEDCOM through Larne Development Forum with the support of Larne Borough Council. To register your attendance please ring LEDCOM 02828270742 or email info@ledcom.org. Wednesday 25 January Technology Trends 5.30pm – 7.30pm in Ledcom, Bank Road Fourth seminar in free series for retailers It will delivered by Nick Martin, eBusiness Advisor within Invest NI. Selling products online has never been more competitive. This workshop will look at some of the preliminary requirements for selling online using your own website and third party trading platforms. The workshop will have a practical element, allowing delegates to discuss best practice e-commerce techniques and clearly establish how they will be applicable to the retail sector. RSVP to mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk or just come along on the night. 19 December 2011 Town Development Office - 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 37 Dates for Your Diary Wednesday 2 November - PLACES STILL AVAILABLE Visual Merchandising and the Shopping Environment Third seminar in free series – to be delivered by Stephen Hamilton and Healey Martin from the Henderson Group. Knowing how to display your products effectively to make them appealing, attractive, accessible, engaging and enticing to shoppers is critical in influencing customer buying behaviour, conveying your store brand and increasing customer spend. RSVP to mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk or just come along on the night. 5.30pm – 7.30pm in Ledcom, Bank Road Wednesday 16 November Workshop for all Larne Town Centre traders, retailers and businesses Experience around the United Kingdom has demonstrated that Town Centre Partnerships, led by local businesses can have a significant impact on how town centres function. Jacquie Reilly from the Association of Town Centre Management will be running this interactive workshop to get your views on how businesses working together and in partnership with other agencies could improve Larne Town Centre. She has a wealth of experience in building town centre partnerships and creating realistic action plans. The workshop is open to all private sector businesses with an interest in Larne Town Centre. Forum members are encouraged to participate and to bring other business owners along to this workshop. 5.30pm – 7.30pm in Ledcom, Bank Road Wednesday 14 December Larne Traders Forum Christmas Evening Caffé Spice Details will be circulated shortly – booking required! DEL Customised Training Customised Training is designed to enhance the skills base within SME business. Where no existing DEL training product will meet the skills of your company, the Department will endeavour to create a bespoke project on your behalf. Financial support is based on the cost of training, the size of your company and the level of qualifications already attained by employees. http://www.delni.gov.uk/index/successthroughskills/skillssolutions/skills-solutions-programmes/customised-training.htm Shops on the internet Shops that have a presence on the internet achieve an average 62% higher sales figures than those with no web profile, according to The Internet Market Research Group. Yet with internet sales accounting for only around 16% of our purchases, it demonstrates that shoppers STILL prefer shopping on the High Street, BUT make a point of going on line before they shop. Research shows that most of us simply want to check availability or prices and that we use the internet to find telephone numbers or locations before calling retailers in person. Stores which have impressive coverage on the internet, either through their own sites or through respected portals such as TownTalk, generate more enquiries and more sales. Whilst fashion and household items still command support from ‘hands-on’ shoppers, some items do seem to be disappearing from the High Street fast. The top 5 sellers are software, books, music, films and flowers; which collectively account for 26% of all on line sales. TownTalk Newsletter – 25 October 2011 31 October 2011 Town Development Office - 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 36 Dates for Your Diary Tuesday 18 October Customer Service Excellence HAVE YOU BOOKED A PLACE FOR YOU AND YOUR STAFF?? Second seminar in free series for local businesses and retailers; to be delivered by Michael McQuillan of the streat and Jill Beasant of Spotcheck NI; full details will be circulated separately. 5.30pm – 7.30pm in Ledcom, Bank Road Wednesday 19 October Hospitality Exchange – The Future of Tourism “We need to understand what makes people want to visit and the role each of us has to play in delivering a positive result.” 10.30-12.00 noon at Ramada Plaza Hotel, Belfast Book by visiting www.hospitalityexchange.co.uk Wednesday 2 November Visual Merchandising and the Shopping Environment Third seminar in free series – full details will be circulated; to be delivered by Stephen Hamilton and Healey Martin from the Henderson Group. 5.30pm – 7.30pm in Ledcom, Bank Road High street must open later to compete with online The Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM) says town centres must consider opening through the evenings in order to boost sales. It points to the findings of its own recent studies that found sales rise by as much as 50% between the hours of 5pm and 8pm, compared to those between 9am and 11am. Opening later and closing later should therefore be considered, it says. The study looked at spending patterns in cities where later opening already occurred and found spend went up by 10 to 12%. This would seem to be a long-overdue recognition of the fact that consumers are today quite simply used to getting their own way. If they can’t shop in their high street past 6pm, they will go elsewhere, online. www.internetretailing.net/2011/09/high-streeet-must-open-later-to-compete-with-online/ Results of 2011 Translink ‘Ulster in Bloom’ Larne won the ‘most improved’ category and Larne Methodist Church, Curran Road received a special ward for outstanding presentation. At the presentation, a NITB Board member said “This competition plays an important role in making Northern Ireland a ‘must-see’ destination by bringing colour and vibrancy to our towns and villages.” Open Coffee Ballyclare This is a locally organized, informal business networking group that meets monthly for coffee and a chat. Sometimes they have a focused discussion around a topic of interest to entrepreneurs. All suggestions are welcome. Their mission is to bring businesses in the Ballyclare area together for networking, sharing of contacts, expertise, experience and an injection of energy. Next event is on 20 October. https://www.facebook.com/opencoffeeballyclare?sk=wall 12 October 2011 Town Development Office - 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 35 Dates for Your Diary Monday 19 September Mary Portas Guide to Successful Retailing – Taster Session First in a series of free workshops for local retailers and traders Larne Campus Northern Regional College at 5.30 pm till 7.30 pm Limited places still available. Book your place by contacting Town Development Office; phone 28263082/3 Friday 23 and Saturday 24 September “LARNE LOVES FOOD” WEEKEND LARNE OYSTER FESTIVAL – FRIDAY AND SATURDAY Taking place in local restaurants and bars which will be serving oysters, shellfish and seafood specialities with many providing live music. FOCUS ON FOOD at BROADWAY - SATURDAY 10.00 AM – 4.00 PM There will be plenty to see and taste as local chefs provide demonstrations and local food outlets and producers showcase what is available around the town: “Taste of Ulster” and NI Good Food Demonstrations; Live music at the Bandstand; Oyster eating competition; Focus on Food stalls Tuesday 27 September Where are the global, national and local economies heading and how will this impact on local businesses? 8.30am – 10.00am at Prom Café and McNeill Theatre, Larne Leisure Centre First in The Larne Vital Business Seminar Series brought to you by Larne Development Forum and supported by Larne BC and Ledcom. Tuesday 18 October Customer Service Excellence Second seminar in free series for local businesses and retailers; to be delivered by Michael McQuillan of the streat and Jill Beasant of Spotcheck NI; full details will be circulated separately. 5.30pm – 7.30pm in Ledcom, Bank Road Wednesday 2 November Visual Merchandising and the Shopping Environment Third seminar in free series – full details will be circulated; to be delivered by Stephen Hamilton and Healey Martin from the Henderson Group. 5.30pm – 7.30pm in Ledcom, Bank Road Christmas 2011 ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONS PACKAGE “DEALightful” Christmas in Larne An opportunity for your business to participate in this year’s Christmas campaign which aims to promote Larne as a “delightful” place for Christmas shopping that offers great deals and a wide range of products at affordable prices. • For the first time, a short television advert promoting Larne as a “DEALightful” Christmas shopping destination (at least 13 advert slots running on 7/9 & 14/16 December including during peak time viewing) • Your own entry in the Shopping and Events Guide (double-sided entry – use as an advert, a voucher, a festive greeting for your customers, a business card with contact details; delivered to 20,000 households throughout Larne Borough between 28 November and 2 December and additional copies for your business) • Another first, a dedicated Larne Christmas campaign web-page (www.dealightfulchristmas.co.uk) • Campaign E-mails (available for you to circulate to your own e-mail contacts) • Campaign window posters • Campaign press adverts Your participation in the campaign is offered for only £275 For further details contact the Town Development Office - Phone: 2826 3082/28263083 or e-mail: mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk or bellh@larne.gov.uk 14 September 2011 Town Development Office - 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 34 Dates for Your Diary Wednesday 14 September Monthly meeting – Larne Traders Forum Agenda and minutes issued Friday 16 September “Irish History Lessons” by Tim McGarry Larne Leisure Centre at 7.30 pm for 8.00 pm Tickets from Tourist Information Centre; phone 2826 0088 Monday 19 September Mary Portas Guide to Successful Retailing – Taster Session First in a series of free workshops for local retailers and traders Full details circulated separately Larne Campus Northern Regional College at 5.30 pm till 7.30 pm Book your place by contacting Town Development Office; phone 28263082/3 Is the High Street Doomed? Evan Davis, Dragon’s Den presenter, writing for BBC Radio 4 Today programme asks the question. “Retailing has gone through many revolutions before: for example, the rise of the supermarket from the late 1940s which let customers pick things off the shelves themselves. But, in an era of austerity in which online retailers - free from traditional property and staffing costs and often boasting a vast range of products - are presenting a whole new type of competition, are our High Street shops ready for disruption on that scale now? What kinds of strategy will survive the difficult years our shops are going to face? “ Interesting examples include the extreme niche business exemplified by Hotel Chocolat with 54 stores and an online shop “We’re a movement about chocolate; we like to make our customers happy; it’s a very straightforward business” says co-founder Angus Thirlwell. John Lewis chairman, Charlie Mayfield says there is no substitute for high quality service, striving to give customers better value, better products and better convenience. Ken Murray from Boots believes that the UK is one of the best retailing nations in the world but argues that we should be trying to make our retail space work harder, rather than continually adding new space. Results of a Today programme questionnaire asking people how much they used their High Street and what could be done to make it thrive can be found on the BBC Radio Four website (Features and Analysis); www.bbc.co.uk/today Shops Vacant as Customers Drift Away Overall footfall between May and July was 1% lower than the same period a year earlier. Falling shopper numbers in the UK were driven by a 1.9% fall in people visiting out-of-town complexes. The number of people entering shopping centres rose by 0.6%. Over the last 12 months high streets on average have seen the highest drop in footfall of 2.6%. The hardest hit locations were Wales (-9.2%), the West Midlands (-6.6%) and the East of England (-6.2%) which recorded the sharpest decreases in footfall. Greater London (1.6%), the South West (0.4%) and Scotland (0.2%) were the only locations that saw shopper numbers rise. The national town centre vacancy rate in the UK was 11.2% in May 2011 (high streets and shopping centres). Northern Ireland (17.1%), Wales (13.4%) and the North and Yorkshire (13.1%) recorded the highest vacancy rates. July's footfall counts rose for all types of shopping locations compared with June due to the combination of summer sales and the start of school holidays. Stephen Robertson, British Retail Consortium Director General, said: "This is the first time we've been able to publish footfall and vacancy figures in this level of detail and it shows stark differences in retail health between some of the UK's nations and regions. Generally, the parts of the UK where the public sector is a bigger proportion of the economy are the ones where customer spending is most likely to be hit by worries about job prospects and cuts, meaning people are shopping less and more retail businesses are failing. By both measures, Northern Ireland and Wales are suffering particularly badly." British Retail Consortium, News Story – 22 August 2011 31 August 2011 Town Development Office - 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 33 Labour launches campaign to boost UK’s high streets Labour is launching a campaign to save Britain’s high streets, calling for urgent action to help retailers, protect jobs and give people a real say over their local high street. Labour has unveiled a four-point plan to save Britain’s high streets: • Enact a temporary cut in VAT from 20% to 17.5%, giving struggling retailers a boost and putting £450 back into each family’s pocket. • Introduce a retail diversity planning clause, putting communities in charge of the future of their local high streets. Local people and local retailers would have a say on any retail plans for their area, giving them the power to put the heart back into the high street. • Create a ‘competition test’ in the planning system, leading to greater choice and lower prices for shoppers. The test would ensure a level playing field between small and large shops. • Repeat Labour’s empty shops initiative, enabling councils to pursue innovative uses for empty shops and reinvigorate high-streets, such as using vacant units for cultural, community or learning services, rather than leaving them empty. Story taken from www.rudi.net Further funding for NI Management and Leadership Training Schemes The Department for Employment and Learning is continuing to offer subsidised leadership and management training for businesses and social economy organisations through its Made Not Born programme. Made Not Born is a suite of programmes and events designed to give leaders and managers at all levels - from line managers to directors - the skills, expertise and know-how to effectively manage and develop their organisation. http://www.delni.gov.uk/index/successthroughskills/madenotborn/about-leadership-management.htm Why the NI Executive would be off its trolley to target NI’s retail giants In his recent budget announcement Finance Minister S Wilson stated that he will be looking to extend the small business rate relief scheme and cross-subsidising this by applying a levy to large retail properties, including major out of town shopping developments which in his words “have not fared too badly during this downturn compared to our smaller businesses”. The proposed tax is ill thought out and targets one part of the retail sector that should be one of the key sectors in terms of driving investment and job opportunities across NI over the next few years. It is erroneous for independent traders to present this as an out-of-town supermarket tax when the reality is that it will impact on all types of retailers in all locations; it will target large in-town occupiers, such as department stores, large fashion stores, bulky goods retailers, DIY stores and garden centres. The tax is indiscriminate. There is a danger that, if implemented, retailers who are multi-nationals and have a choice, will choose to invest in countries that provide them a better return than N Ireland. Taken from article in Belfast Telegraph “Northern Ireland’s Top 100 Companies”, by Stephen Deyermond, March 2011 Large Retailer Levy The planned tax risks retarding growth and job creation without any guarantee that small firms would benefit, the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium said, adding that business improvement districts which cut town centre crime and promote better transport links should be created instead. http://www.newrossstandard.ie/breaking-news/national-news/group-questions-large-retailer-levy-2830663.html Performance of UK’s high streets in June Footfall in the UK’s high streets increased by 3.7% over the month from May to June, but fell by 2.2% annually from June 2010. However, despite the annual drop in footfall, it ios important to understand that the high street is not re-experiencing the recession, as the 2.2% decline is a far more positive result than the 7.7% decline recorded in June 2009. Data from National High Street Index; www.spring-board.info Autumn/Spring Seminars and Workshops A series of short evening workshops are being planned by Larne Development Forum; these will be free to attend for all local retailers and details will be circulated shortly. The topics reflect feedback from a recent survey of retailers. We hope you will be able to participate. 1 August 2011 Town Development Office - 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 31 Date for your diary – Summer Barbecue This year’s summer barbecue will take place on Friday 29 July at East Antrim Boat Club. Details of times, menu, ticket prices, etc are being finalized and will be circulated shortly. Please put this date in your diary now! Rebalancing the Business Rates System Finance Minister, Sammy Wilson, has launched a consultation on increasing the amount of rate relief for small businesses, which would be funded by a levy on the largest retail premises. Minister Wilson said, “The two main changes, if agreed by the Executive and Assembly following consultation, would apply for three years. The measures would be redistributive in nature and broadly self funding. One policy is dependent on the other. There should not be any further pressure on the public purse.” The preferred approach for the large retail levy would involve an average levy on rate bills of around 20%. This would be applied to large retail premises with a rateable value of £500,000 or more. It would take the form of a regional rate supplement. In terms of the small business rate relief scheme the preferred approach would be for 20% relief to be provided to eligible premises with an NAV of £5,001 - £10,000. This would double the amount of relief provided under the main scheme. No additional relief would be provided to those currently receiving small business rate relief (NAV of £5,000 or below). He said: “I am also canvassing views on proposals to allow the non-commercial use of window displays in empty shops, so that the full occupied rate is not charged on otherwise empty properties. This would also apply for three years.” In concluding the Minister commented: “I would urge business organisations, as well as businesses themselves, to respond to the consultation – not simply to voice an opinion but to offer evidence of the benefits and drawbacks of the proposals, my Department’s preliminary analysis and the initial impact assessments. All this will be considered before final decisions are reached in the autumn. “Following consultation I will be asking the Executive and Assembly to approve any legislation so that the final measures could be in place from 1 April 2012 for a three year period through to 31 March 2015.” The consultation paper, along with the initial impact assessments, is available on the DFP website. The consultation will run for 16 weeks ending on Tuesday 18 October 2011. Final decisions will only be reached following consultation. British Retail Consortium defends role of multiple retailers The BRC chairman Luke Mayhew says large retailers as a catalyst for town centres. He said that multiple retailers play a central role in national and local economies and deserve to be appreciated as the most likely catalysts of high street regeneration. “We should celebrate small and independent shops; but we should also appreciate large and multiple retailers, who often anchor high streets and bring footfall so desperately needed.” Published in Shopping Centre Magazine 8 June 2011 National Trust Portmuck Picnic Join the National Trust wardens for a walk and talk around this stunning part of the Islandmagee coastline on Saturday 2 July. Meet at Portmuck Harbour car park at 2.00pm. Adult £3, Child £1.50. For further information contact Colin Barrett on 028 9064 7787 or e-mail: colin.barrett@nationaltrust.org.uk 29 June 2011 Town Development Office - 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 30 Larne Traders Forum Office-Bearers for 2011/2012 At the AGM on 15 June, the following were elected as office-bearers for the coming year: Chairman John Shannon, Inver Garden Centre Vice-Chairman David Hunter, Classic Decor Committee Mariann Casagrande, Caffe Spice Linzi Conway, Key to Success Allan Dorman, Dorman and Son David Liddle Mervyn McConkey, TF Woodside and Co Mabel Richmond, Bake If you have any issues which you would like the Forum to address, any potential new members who would like more information about the Forum, or if you have any ideas for the Forum, please contact one of the office bearers or the Town Development Office. It was also agreed at the AGM that the membership fee for 2011/2012 would be reduced to £35; the Forum will continue to be a strong representative local voice which promotes and supports retailers and businesses throughout Larne. It is hoped that the reduced fee will provide an opportunity to encourage new members to join as well as existing members to renew. A Full-Time Community Radio Station for Larne? - Public Meeting Chaine Music has announced that the organisation will spearhead an attempt to give Larne a full-time community radio station. They are holding a public meeting at 7.30 pm on 22 June 2011 at Ledcom, Bank Road, to explain more to the general public and to gain initial expressions of support from community groups and private individuals that may wish to get involved in such a project. Community radio licences are for small-scale, not-for-profit radio stations operated for the good of members of the public, or of particular communities, and in order to deliver social gain. Community radio is less commercial than mainstream radio and even Chaine FM has been in the past. Whilst some advertising and sponsorship is carried, such radio stations tend to be reliant on grant funding. Gary Andrews of Chaine Music explains the importance of community consultation: “Whilst undoubtedly much of the programming will be similar to that which made Chaine FM so popular we need to put the community at the heart of a full-time station. This can only be done with full engagement with Larne people. We want to feature the young and the elderly, families and single people, the arts and sports groups. We want to feature community groups whatever their community background. We can have minority language programming if there is a demand; whether it be Ulster-Scots, Irish or Polish. Basically this is all-inclusive radio. We also want to provide training opportunities. Therefore, it isn’t up to us how the station should look, we need the community to decide that.” One consequence of the decision is that there will be no Chaine FM during Christmas 2011. Gary Andrews explains: “Chaine FM, whilst rewarding for listeners and all involved, does take up around two continuous months of volunteer time each year. Those of us behind the plan to bid for a Larne community radio license simply cannot afford this time this year if we are to put together a viable business plan for a full-time station. Whilst we know listeners may be disappointed we hope that everyone understands our logic – by sacrificing Chaine FM this Christmas we could have a full time community radio station in Larne.” Anyone interested in getting involved with the attempt to bring a full-time radio station to Larne or simply hearing more about this initiative is invited to the meeting at Ledcom on 22 June or to contact Gary Andrews on gary@chainefm.com, phone: 07740 433590, www.chainefm.com or via Chaine FM’s Facebook page. “Theft from your Shop” Information Session This is being given by PSNI specialist trainers, is free and is taking place on Tuesday 28 June at 2.00 pm, upstairs in Caffé Spice. 20 June 2011 Town Development Office - 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 27 Larne Development Forum meets Banking Representatives Copy of recent press release attached Empty Shops level – Q1 2011 Recent research by Local Data Company (LDC) analysed empty units which closed from January 2011 to March 2011 – in total 12,124 units were analysed. • Shops are continuing to be vacated, though at a slower rate than 2 years ago • Lancashire, Durham and Nottinghamshire had the highest shop vacancy by English county • Counties in the north and Midlands have the highest percentages of boarded up shops as consumer spending reduces • Greater London had the maximum closed units standing at nearly 22% with both East and West Midlands at 6.7% • Percentage of total vacancy closures was maximum for cafes, tea rooms and snack shops standing at nearly 4% In a recent study by Javelin Group, it was predicted that a quarter of all non-food retail outlets in the UK could be vacant by 2020. According to CEO Tony Stockil of the group, “the recession is only now hitting some retailers and so we will see more vacancies”. Some industry specialists believe that this can be attributed to increasing operating costs, growing competition and growing online sales. Based on ONS experimental Internet sales series, the non-seasonally adjusted average weekly value of Internet retail sales in March 2011 was £529 million, which was approximately 9.8 per cent of total retail sales (excluding automotive fuel) and the predictions are that this will reach more than 10% by 2014. We already know the supermarkets are taking an increasing slice of the retail cake, but with Rob Templeman, chief executive of Debenhams, saying: “Vacancy rates in some northern towns are really high but in terms of like-for-like sales growth, some of our best performing stores are in Manchester,” it would appear that vacancy rates in high street stores are attributable to more than just recessionary failures. Larne Alive – Pirate Festival Retailers must rethink the purpose of their stores In a recent article in Marketing Week, a report from Deloitte suggested ‘retailers must rethink the purpose of their stores as part of a multi-channel strategy’. Black Friday and Manic Monday highlighted the increase in online shopping compared to in-store sales. No longer are just bricks and mortar operations sufficient, high quality websites are essential and expected by customers. Multi-channel operations will be significant in driving growth in UK retail. Stores are no longer just a space to sell goods but also a representation of the company brand. Another interesting part of the article was ‘retailers reported higher online sales in areas they have a physical store and that a multi-channel shopper spends more money per transaction than either store or online only shoppers.’ Reasons for this could be that shoppers research a purchase before committing to it to ensure they not only get the best deal but the most up to date version of a product and best quality. The increase in smart phones and internet access on the move allows customers to compare prices in competing stores as they shop. Mobile applications such as Voucher Cloud also enable users to receive discounts and vouchers for relevant stores and restaurants in the nearby area. The combination of online and in store selling allows easy price and product comparisons with the physical store allowing buyers to see the item up close and personal, often finalising it as the item wanted. Good quality online operations and well presented in store products lead to higher sales. National High Street Index from Springboard The results from the NHSI at the end of March were more upbeat than indices that focussed wholly on retailer performance. With just a 1.3% decline in footfall in our high streets from March 2010, the NHSI demonstrated that our town centres are exhibiting some longed for resilience in attracting customers - the challenge now is getting them through retailers’ doors and spending. Despite the maturity of out of town destinations and the emergence of online shopping as a viable alternative to visiting stores, it is evident that shoppers still want to visit their town centres. However, the real reduction in household disposable income has meant that shoppers have become ever more discerning – not just on the basis of price, but also in terms of the overall shopping experience. The bottoming out of the reduction in footfall after significant declines in previous years makes it clear – our town centres are where shoppers want to be, even in the throes of the toughest economic climate for decades. But retailers can no longer rest on their laurels, and many need to be more proactive and responsive to customers’ needs if they are to ensure their longevity. 11 May 2011 Town Development Office - 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 26 Larne’s Got Style – Friday 15 April Tickets are still available from the Tourist Information Centre priced at £12 each. There is entertainment, fashion show, goody bags, prizes, bar available, Style Spotters and lots more. Doors open at 7.30 pm with the show commencing at 8.00 pm. Lots of local stores are participating and it should be a great night out. Retail seminars from Invest NI Invest NI are unable to provide financial support for the retail sector; however, they are keen to offer alternative assistance due to the current economic context. They are running pilot schemes in Ballymena and Carrickfergus with the University of Ulster by offering four free seminars/workshops on the following topics: Consumer trends Technology trends E-commerce in the macro-environment Micro-level issues within retail outlets, including customer service Invest NI have offered to run the same scheme in Larne and need indications of the level of interest; they would need 10/12 businesses attending each seminar to merit running the scheme and are interested in views from the Forum. Trade Waste Easter Collection Larne BC are seeking Forum member views on whether a lift should take place as usual on Monday 25 April being Easter Monday or be deferred until Tuesday or Thursday of that week. If shops are open on Monday, it may be preferred to lift waste on the Monday as usual. Rural Retail Workshop This is being run by the Ulster Business School, University of Ulster on Thursday 5 May at Galgorm Manor, Ballymena from 10am to 4pm, free of charge. The workshop, targeting rural retailers, is designed “to get the best out of your business to face future challenges full on”. The day will give you a unique, practical hands-on opportunity to plan for the future of your company. Lunch and refreshments are provided. RSVP by Monday 25 April to Ian Smyth – phone: 7012 3049 or e-mail: i.smyth@ulster.ac.uk Recent meeting with NI Banks A copy of the notes from this meeting is attached for your information. Fuel prices and Shopper Behaviour Exclusive research on behalf of Shopping Centre magazine shows that high fuel prices are now having a real impact on shopper behaviour with almost half of shoppers thinking twice before using their car. The research found that four in 10 shoppers intend to limit use of their cars for shopping as a result of the high cost of fuel. Of these shoppers almost one half intend to reduce the number of shopping trips that they make. And looking more closely at those shoppers who had arrived by car on the day of the interview – more than half of our sample – almost one quarter intend to reduce the number of shopping trips they make. This clearly has the potential to have a real impact on shopping centre footfall. An age difference also seems to be opening up: shoppers over 45 are almost a third more likely than younger shoppers to reduce their number of shopping trips because of high fuel prices. Among younger shoppers, aged under 45, only one in 10 is planning to go to out-of-town centres less. The research team director Andrew McCall pointed out that different demographic groups may also be impacted differently. “Lower socio-economic groups tend to live in areas that are less well served by public transport, and are forced to use their cars more for shopping trips, so they are likely to be harder-hit,” he said. www.shoppingcentre.co.uk (article published 21 March 2011) 13 April 2011 Town Development Office - 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 25 Shaping Our Future (Regional Development Strategy) – Consultation on 10 Year Review www.drdni.gov.uk/shapingourfuture This is a review of the spatial strategy of the NI Executive and it provides an overarching strategic planning framework to facilitate and guide the public and private sectors. It proposes a hierarchy of settlements which would determine the priorities for development and investment. The principal cities are Belfast and Londonderry; nine Sub-Regional Centres are proposed - Enniskillen, Omagh, Coleraine, Ballymena, Cookstown, Craigavon, Newry, Downpatrick and Newtownards. In order to create networks for further co-operation, clusters are suggested as follows: Coleraine, Ballymoney and Ballycastle Cookstown, Dungannon and Magherafelt Craigavon and Banbridge and possibly Armagh Ballymena and Antrim Newry and cross border with Dundalk These centres and clusters will be considered first in any future development decisions. Larne is not identified as a Sub-Regional Centre nor placed within a cluster. Larne is described in the document as “a large town just outside the Belfast catchment and just inside the Ballymena (catchment). It has a gateway role and may not be appropriate for it to cluster.” Larne is identified as a Gateway and Port and is on a Key Transport Corridor. You may wish to make comments to the Department for Regional Development who are seeking views. The document has some 180 pages; a short synopsis of some of the main points is attached along with some possible comments which you may wish to forward; you may e-mail responses to shapingourfuture@drdni.gov.uk by 5.00 pm on 31 March Larne’s Got Style – Friday 15 April This fashion extravaganza evening is back – tickets are now on sale from the Tourist Information Centre priced at £12 each. There is entertainment, fashion show, goody bags, bar available, Style Spotters and lots more. Doors open at 7.30 pm with the show commencing at 8.00 pm. Lots of local stores are participating and a sell-out event is anticipated. Corporation Tax Consultation The decision on whether to lower corporation tax in Northern Ireland is hugely important according to Finance Minister Sammy Wilson. “If corporation tax powers are devolved it will potentially offer the Executive a major opportunity to bring about a step change in our economic performance. At no point will this be an easy or straightforward decision. It will perhaps be the most difficult decision that a local Executive here will ever be asked to take. I would therefore strongly encourage everyone to read and consider this document very carefully before making their response.” This is part of the Rebalancing the Northern Ireland Economy consultation document which can be obtained at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk The consultation period lasts until 24 June 2011. Use of Empty Shop Fronts Finance Minister Sammy Wilson has announced his intention to change the law so that empty shop fronts can be used for non-commercial purposes without incurring full rates. The aim is to prevent businesses being penalised for making alternative use of empty premises, something which can prevent empty shops contributing to a run-down feel in town centres. The issue will be consulted upon at the same time as the recently announced proposals for extending the small business rate scheme, by charging a levy on the largest shops. It is expected that this will go out to consultation early in the summer and the views of national and local traders, shoppers and local business people will be canvassed before any decisions are made. Ardclinis Outdoor Adventure They are now operating from a fantastic new facility located at Garron Point and they offer a huge range of activities including outdoor activity days, corporate team building and specialized treasure hunts. “Come and try us” opportunities are available on 9/10 April. Contact: 028 2177 1340; www.ardclinis.com Retail Survey A copy of the summary of responses from the recent survey carried out by the Larne Development Forum is attached for your information. Next Meeting The next meeting is on Wednesday 13 April – papers will be issued next week. 28 March 2011 Town Development Office - 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 24 (v2) e-marketing Business Clinic This clinic is taking place at Willowbank Business Centre, Millbrook on this Thursday 24 March from 10.00 am to 1.00pm and is being taken by Invest NI e-solutions centre who are experts on e-marketing including use of Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc for the benefit of business. Places are still available – contact Ledcom on 2827 0742. Tendering Success Workshop Details of this workshop to be held on 29 March have already been circulated. If you currently tender for contracts or feel that this would benefit your business, this workshop will provide practical knowledge and skills. Contact LEDCOM at 2827 0742 Consultation on new Good Relations Strategy Larne Borough Council seeks to work with the community and voluntary sector and other bodies to build on and support the development of good relations work in the Borough. Specifically it places emphasis on building a shared future and society for citizens of the Borough and visitors to it. The Council has appointed the Venturei Network to carry out an audit to inform our new Good Relations Strategy. Public sessions are being held as listed below – 30 and 31 March and 5 April. A4E (Action for Employment) and Apprenticeships NI initiative A4E has been contracted by the Dept for Employment and Learning to deliver work-based apprenticeships at NVQ Level 2 and 3 free to employees in the areas of Business and Administration, Retail, Customer Service and Warehousing. There is an employer bonus of £500 per employee that successfully completes the full training framework. Contact Wayne Greenaway for further information – 9074 4944; full information attached. Business in the Community – Roddensvale Challenge BITC is carrying out a challenge on 5 April at Roddensvale to create an outdoor classroom including planters for growing vegetables and trellises for fruit bushes. They are looking for some materials (listed below); if you would like to assist this project, please contact the Town Development Office as soon as possible. BITC will arrange press and pr coverage for businesses participating in the project. Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme The Health Promotion Agency and local health visitors are encouraging Larne businesses to participate in this scheme. An increasing number of mums are checking the web-site to find out where they will be welcome. Details of the “Breastfeeding Welcome Here” scheme are at www.breastfedbabies.org – your business must fulfill membership criteria and those participating will be given recognition through ongoing promotion and awareness raising, including website listing and window sticker. Larne Times – Member Profiles These will be continuing on a regular basis; if you would like your business to be included, please contact Pauline at 2826 3083. Levy on Out of Town Stores welcomed - Budget proposals to impose a levy on out-of-town shopping developments to boost small businesses have been welcomed by Northern Ireland independent traders. The Department for Finance and Personnel will bring forward proposals to extend the small business rate relief scheme, meaning more companies could qualify. Finance Minister Sammy Wilson would subsidise this through a levy on large retailers like major out-of-town shopping developments. At present, around 16,000 small businesses receive a reduction in their rates bill. If the proposal goes ahead, many more could benefit, based on their rateable value. Mr Wilson said: "I will be looking to cross-subsidise this by applying a levy to large retail properties, including major out-of-town shopping developments which have not fared too badly during this downturn compared to our smaller businesses." Details of the plan have yet to be decided upon. Belfast Telegraph 4/3 Town Centre Manifesto launched by ATCM –NI The Association of Town Centre Management in NI has launched a Manifesto for Town Centres which seeks to keep the importance of town centres at the core of the political debate in the coming Assembly and Local Government elections. This is the first time that an ATCM region has agreed such a manifesto and it illustrates the importance of speaking with one voice to emphasize how towns and cities can become successful centres of the community and drivers of the economy. www.atcm.org (Policy documents – “ATCM NI A Manifesto for Town Centres”) Royal Wedding Holiday Friday 29 April – Opening Hours Are members open for business on Friday 29 April? The general feeling seems to be that most will be open – let us know and we will pass on the message. Dalriada Festival This new festival is taking place in Glenarm on 17 – 19 June and is expected to attract a large number of visitors to the local area. Check for further information on www.dalriadafestival.co.uk 21 March 2011 Town Development Office - 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk Business in the Community – Roddensvale Challenge Can you help with any of these? Sleepers 14 – for raised beds Blocks/flat – 36 regular blocks 20 (1’’ x 4’’ x 8’’) – for edging paths and trees Pegs for supporting the edging Boarding & fence posts for recycling area 12 fence posts & boards Stones to make paths – 1 tonne/4 bags 2 x trellised to support fruit bushes Chicken wire – 2 rolls Fence posts – 8 foot – 2 x 12 Nails 4 inch galvanized – 1 large bag Wall plate metal LARNE BOROUGH COUNCIL GOOD RELATIONS STRATEGY COMMUNITY CONSULTATIONS Have Your Say You are invited to attend one of the open meetings as detailed below; Larne Town Larne Museum & Arts Centre Wednesday 30th March from 7.00m – 9.00pm Larne Lough Ballycarry Community Centre Thursday 31st March from 7.00pm – 9.00pm Larne Coast Glenlough Community Centre Tuesday 5th April from 7.00pm – 9.00pm Whilst you do not need to register to attend it would be useful from a planning point of view if you could confirm your attendance by contacting Larne Borough Council through one of the following contact channels: Contact: Pauline McAuley Email: mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk Tel: 028 2826 3083 / 028 2827 2313 UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 23 How safe are you on our roads? Larne District Policing Partnership is holding a themed meeting in public on Thursday 3 March at 7.15 pm at Drumalis Conference Centre, Glenarm Road, Larne. Experts from the PSNI, Road Safety and others will give a presentation and then answer questions. Everyone is welcome to come along and give views on road safety and put forward any questions they may have. For queries and information, contact Wendy Carson, DPP Manager – phone: 2827 2313 or e-mail: carsonw@larne.gov.uk TownTalk “Towns facing financial pressures are turning to internet projects as a means of maintaining high levels of service delivery and at the same time reducing their costs.” TowTalk is a national network of town centre web sites offering information for residents, shoppers and visitors. There are currently over 160 towns and cities involved in the Project, which has been supported in England by the regional development agencies, the DTi and the European Regional Development Fund. New towns are joining the network and new features are being added every month. News, events and comprehensive Shopping and Business directories ensure that your visit to town is a more pleasurable experience, thanks to TownTalk. Visit www.towntalk.co.uk and let us know if you feel this might be beneficial for Larne. Police Street Surgeries These surgeries continue to be a popular way for members of the public to meet neighbourhood officers and raise issues relating to community safety, crime, disorder and other matters in a familiar environment. Street surgeries have recently been held in Waterfoot and Portstewart lasting one to two hours. Would they be useful here? Next Forum meeting The next meeting is on Wednesday 16 March – agenda and papers will be issued shortly. 28 February 2011 Town Development Office - 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 22 Retailers’ Survey All retail outlets should have received a copy of a survey being carried out by Larne Development Forum; it is also available on the Business section of the Council’s website – www.larne.gov.uk Your views are being sought on the issues currently affecting business and what type of help might be relevant to you in addressing these concerns. Please make sure that you return your survey by 28 February as it will assist in developing support programmes from Council for retailers. Bankers Forum Larne Development Forum has invited four local banks to meet them on 8 March to hear what they are doing to support business and so that views from local businesses may be put to them. Your questions, experiences and observations would be very useful for this forum – please forward them to the Town Development Office or to David Gillespie at Ledcom – DavidGillespie@ledcom.org Belfast Telegraph Supplement – Focus on Larne – 25 March publication date Larne Development Forum is working with the Telegraph and McCann PR to put together this special 24 page supplement. It will focus on why people should consider living, working, shopping and spending leisure time in Larne. This will be the first time such a supplement has been used as a focus on a place and it will contain editorial and high quality photos. Sponsors are being sought to contribute to the costs of production; they will receive editorial coverage in the supplement rather than pure advert space. Businesses could use this for promotions, good news stories, vouchers or competitions as an alternative to an advert. Additional copies will also be available for ongoing circulation. The Forum may wish to consider ways in which they could participate in this publication. Contact the Town Development Office or Sheila Davidson from McCann PR – smedavidson@btinternet.com Larne’s Got Style This award winning event is taking place on 15 April at the McNeill Theatre; if you would like an opportunity to promote your business to a style-conscious audience of over 200, please contact the Town Development Office. All members of the audience will be receiving a free goody bag and you may wish to offer something which could be included in this. Business Support Programmes Just a reminder that there are a number of programmes available to support local businesses; Ledcom can also give further advice. They are outlined in the Business section of the Council’s website – www.larne.gov.uk Christmas 2010 Campaign Evaluation All responses to the survey have now been analysed. The weather had the greatest impact in December 2010; whether negative as shoppers did not venture out or positive as people stayed closer to home and particular businesses had increased sales. The current economic climate also impacted on spending levels and sales. A full copy of the evaluation is available; contact the Town Development Office for a copy. 16 February 2011
UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 17 Christmas Advertising and Promotion Campaign – Shop Local – It’s a Great Deal Smarter The booklet has now been completed for print and will be delivered to households in late November. Though advertising sales and sponsorship have been slower to secure this year, the overall campaign budget of £20,000 has been achieved. This provides all design, layout, photo royalty and printing costs for booklets, press adverts and posters, press advertising costs, delivery of booklets and Chaine FM operating costs. The campaign will be launched on Tuesday 16 November at 12.30 pm hosted by the Forum in Caffé Spice; FG Wilson and Port of Larne are continuing as main sponsors with Howden’s providing the main competition prize for Chaine FM. Larne Alive are using the booklet to promote their programme of events and switch-ons in December and Larne Borough Council has also contributed to the campaign. Over 45 different advertisers and sponsors are participating which is a considerable achievement for this local campaign. National High Street Index (September 2010) Footfall declined by 4.1% in UK high streets between August and September. This is actually a more favourable result than that reported for the same month in the previous three years when footfall fell by an average 7%. Footfall declined annually in September which has been the case in seven of the nine months in 2010. However, the year on year decrease of 1.6% in September is the smallest decrease so far this year, and lends further evidence of a gradual bottoming out in the decline in activity in our town centres. So it seems that our town centres are faring relatively well in the face of a trading environment that continues to be challenging for retailers. Although the British Retail Consortium (BRC) reported an annual increase in sales of 0.5%, this increase has been largely due to increases in food sales that have been supported by food inflation. It appears that the dominance of fashion retailing in our town centres is acting as a further buffer to a decline in performance, with the BRC adding that sales of major items fared less well despite widespread discounting and concluding that major spending, much of which is out of town, is largely on hold. Low Carbon, Local Shopping Low-carbon shopping can be a minefield, but follow these rules and you won’t go far wrong. Check out www.1010global.org Recruitment of Independent Custody Visitors for the NI Policing Board The Policing Board are seeking volunteers wishing to join the Custody Visiting Scheme. Independent Custody Visitors are members of the local community who, as part of a custody visiting team, make unannounced visits to police custody suites, where people who have been arrested are held. The purpose of their visits is to tell the Policing Board how people held in custody are being looked after by the police. Applications are being sought from those interested in applying for positions in the Antrim, Armagh, Belfast, Derry/Londonderry and Down areas initially for up to 3 years. Further information can be obtained from www.nipolicingboard.org.uk, via e-mail to custodyvisiting@nipolicingboard.org.uk or by phoning 028 9040 8526. Applications must be received by noon on Friday 26 November. Internet Marketing The Forum has been contacted by a local internet marketing consultant offering consultations. Contact details are: Adrian George, 1 Linn Glen Manor, Larne BT40 2UD; phone: 028 2827 5115; Mobile: 078 3486 3089 or e-mail: adriangeorge@ireland.com Call Handling Scores Highly The way in which Police in the North East of NI respond to phone calls and enquiries from people in the area has scored highly in an analysis of the Police Service’s ‘call handling’ system. Calls to the non-emergency 0845 600 8000 number from people living in the Coleraine, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Moyle and Larne areas are answered at a centre in Coleraine. Earlier this year, an independent organisation used a number of mystery shoppers to check how the system coped with their calls. The scores given to ‘H’ District (Coleraine centre) were consistently among the highest of the call handling centres in NI. The mystery shoppers found that on average their calls to ‘H’ district were answered in one or two rings and the telephonists and call handlers scored consistently well on their courtesy. The mystery shoppers also recorded whether they felt that the way they were responded to by the handlers was appropriate, and the scores given to ‘H’ District were the highest within the Police Service. Any news about your business? If you have anything that you wish to share with members of the Forum, remember to send us information and it will be included in the next Update News. 10 November 2010 Town Development Office 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 16 Christmas Advertising and Promotion Campaign – Shop Local – It’s a Great Deal Smarter Advertising on Chaine FM and in the Shoppers Booklet is still available; if you wish to book advertising or maybe sponsor a radio show, please contact the Town Development Office no later than Wednesday 27 October. Discount for early payment is being offered; a section in the booklet is only £185, show sponsorship is available from £160 and packages including radio and booklet start at £395. Booklets will be delivered to 19,000 homes throughout the Borough so this is an extremely cost effective three week advertising campaign (1 – 24 December). “Medieval Magic” marks Hallowe’en at Carnfunnock Country Park on Saturday 30 October A “Medley of Medieval Magic” has been planned to celebrate Hallowe’en this year in Carnfunnock Country Park on Saturday 30th October. The Hallowe’en Day in the Park will emphasise a family atmosphere, with lots of little witches, ghouls and ghosts enjoying all the entertainment on offer throughout the Park, culminating with a live jousting display. The event is free and will run from 2pm to 6pm. Please visit www.larne.gov.uk for additional details about this event. Map and programme attached. RETAIL NI 2010 Conference - 30 September 2010 – Comments by speakers Lord Mayor of Belfast, Cllr Pat Convery Robin Newton, OFMDFM Junior Minister - Power sharing Assembly not designed for fast or bold decision-making but this will come in time John King, House of Fraser - Need to target margins and sales growth; strong Christmas sales in 2010 are anticipated to impact on Jan/Feb 2011 sales, particularly with VAT increase; investing in people – recruitment by behaviour such as hospitality experience; “Retail is a simple business made complicated by too much management” Gary Mills, Tesco Ireland - Seeking to pursue further investment including Express stores; ongoing promotion of locally sourced lines; promote value of retail jobs and invest in staff; training important for all retailers Mike Smyth, University of Ulster - Cuts v Efficiencies; cuts will not reform how public services are delivered; may be export-led manufacturing recover, retail will stay the same or reduce Cllr Edwin Poots, Minister for the Environment - Need to bring forward updated policy; Executive support for draft PPS5 but subject to Judicial Review; use democratic process rather than courts; support for commercial and economic arguments for development; importance of the private sector making their views known Glyn Roberts, NIIRTA - NI past superstore saturation; local engagement by retailers in lobbying; store location as an issue, not competition; retail should be recognised as an economic development driver, supporting job creation and retention as well as entrepreneurial risk-takers Re-Imagining the High Street: Escape from Clone Town Britain This recently published report from the New Economics Foundation records that only 36% of the high streets surveyed retain their distinctive character with more than two thirds of their shops being independents. The report brands the multiple chain outlets as “fair weather friends” who have either abandoned the high streets entirely or given up so-called secondary locations. “The towns most dependent on the big chains and out of town stores have proven to be the most vulnerable to the economic crisis.” Elizabeth Cox, co-author of the report added: “We need to completely re-evaluate what we use our high streets for now that the age of mass retail is juddering to a halt. Our high streets could become places where shopping is just one small part of a rich mix of activities including working, sharing, exchanging, playing and learning new skills. As the hub of our communities, the high street could become the place where we begin to build a more sustainable world.” 13 October 2010 Town Development Office 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 15 Meet the Buyer Networking Event – Thursday 23 September at Willowbank This free event is aimed at small enterprises from every business sector and includes a Meet the Buyer Event which provides the opportunity to meet private and public sector buyers, various business seminars and a keynote speaker who will speak at the business luncheon. If you would like further information or would be interested in attending contact: Geraldine Smyth at Willowbank – Phone: 2826 9973 or e-mail: geraldinesmyth@ledcomwbp.org Information seminar – NISP Programme – Friday 8 October at Willowbank This free lunchtime seminar will help businesses look at their business ‘waste’ as a potential resource which can be exchanged or sold to other businesses, thus improving your bottom line. The National Symbiosis Programme (NISP) is a free business opportunity programme that delivers bottom line, environmental and social benefits to its members and is supported by Invest NI. The seminar starts at 12 noon and finishes with a networking lunch at 12.30 pm. If you would like further information or wish to book a place contact: June Scullion at Ledcom – Phone: 2827 0742 or e-mail: scullionj@ledcom.org Christmas Advertising and Promotion Campaign – Shop Local – It’s a Great Deal Smarter The campaign runs from 1 – 24 December and again links with Chaine FM. A wide range of packages and sponsorship opportunities are available and an earlybird 5% discount is offered for those advertisers who pay no later than 1 December. Shoppers Booklets will be delivered to over 19,000 local homes throughout the Borough. Further details will be circulated to all Forum members. Salting and Gritting of Footpaths Discussions have been taking place between representatives of DRD Roads Service and local government to put in place effective arrangements for the salting and gritting of footpaths. It is suggested that Roads Service could enter into an agreement for Councils to remove snow and ice from footways and pedestrian areas; DRD Roads Service has further advised that a third party (eg businesses, trading organisations, Chamber of Commerce) could act as a Council’s sub-contractor or agent in respect of such an agreement. Views of the Forum are sought as to whether this option of private sector organisations carrying out this work would be a positive contribution to addressing the salting of footways locally. At the Forum meeting on 15 September, members felt that Councils themselves should carry out the work as their staff had good knowledge of the local area and it would contribute to job retention. Distraction Burglaries Detectives are appealing for information following a number of distraction burglary incidents over recent months. In at least seven incidents reported to police a group of men and women enter shops or off licenses and while a number of the group distract counter staff, others enter store rooms and staff rooms stealing money, stock and personal items. Police believe the same group of people may be involved in incidents in areas including Ballymena, Larne, Magherafelt, Coleraine, Portstewart and Portrush. The group usually consists of at least two couples aged in their 20s or 30s and an older woman. All are described as being of an Eastern European appearance. A dark silver coloured car, possibly with ROI plates has been noted in the areas where several of the burglaries took place. Detectives are keen to speak to anyone who can help with the investigation. The number to call is 0845 600 8000. Alternatively information about crime can be passed anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111. 16 September 2010 Town Development Office 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 14 Forum Meeting with DSD Minister, Alex Attwood MLA Just a reminder that this is taking place Monday coming 6 September at 1.00 pm to 2.00 pm upstairs in Caffé Spice – refreshment will be provided. Larne Lights Up This is a Variety Concert celebrating our community which is being held in the McNeill Theatre on 15 October; it is a joint project of Larne Churches Consultative Committee supported by Peace III. However, participants and supporters are invited from across the whole Borough. If you would like to support the event in any way, please contact YMCA – phone: 2827 9331 or Catherine Black, Good Relations Officer at Larne BC – phone: 2827 2313. NIIRTA Retail Skills Survey “Skillsmart Retail undertakes research across the whole retail sector in Northern Ireland. Independent retailers find themselves in a difficult market position and face varied challenges. Skills to face such challenges are vital, both for owners, managers and staff alike” says Noel Ferguson, Skillsmart Retail NI. In the coming months NIIRTA and Skillsmart Retail will be forming a working group to develop a skills strategy for independent retailers. Property Management Checklist Property costs can account for anywhere between 10% and 40% of a retailer’s fixed costs, which is often second only to a company’s wage bill. However, for many small retailers, property costs can be their greatest expense. The British Retail Consortium has produced a checklist which may help to achieve savings. www.brc.org.uk/propertychecklist Rates Relief – A Helping Hand for SMEs The Federation of Small Businesses NI is continuing its campaign of “Keep Trade Local”. They have also produced a booklet about Rates Relief. www.fsb.org.uk/ni or email: info.nireland@fsb.org.uk Next Forum monthly meeting Date for your diary – Wednesday 15 September at 5.45 pm Full papers will be issued next week. Gentle reminder that membership fees should be paid as soon as possible. 3 September 2010 Town Development Office 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 13 New Office Bearers for 2010/2011 The following office bearers were elected at the recent Annual General Meeting: Chairman – John Shannon, Inver Garden Centre Vice- Chairman – Mariann Casagrande, Caffé Spice Committee members – Linzi Conway, Allan Dorman, David Hunter, David Liddle, Mervyn McConkey, Mabel Richmond Charity Golf Day – Sunday 13 June The brilliant total of £1,700 was raised through the golf day and ballot and this has now been presented to Larne Adult Centre to support the work of this important local facility. Grand Summer Barbecue – Wednesday 28 July Details have already been circulated. This is being held in Caffé Spice, at Carnfunnock starting at 6.00 pm. Guests, colleagues and friends are welcome. Cost is £5 per head for burgers and hot dogs with an honesty bar on the night. Please let Pauline at the Town Development Office know if you will be attending so that we can get the catering organised. Contact: maculeyp@larne.gov.uk or 2826 3083 ICT Support Invest NI’s E-solutions Centre provides practical advice and support to enable businesses to adopt new technologies. This state of the art centre provides businesses with practical and independent support through hands-on demonstrations of ICT. For further information: http://www.investni.com/index/grow/strategic_development/business_information_services/e-solutions_centre-2.htm “I Love Larne Shopping” and “I Love Larne Food” These booklets have been produced to highlight the range of specialist and independent shops in Larne Town Centre. If you would like copies to distribute from your business, please contact the Town Development Office. www.maryportas.com For those of you who may have seen some of the television programmes with Mary Portas working with different retailers, her website is interesting. 10 Reasons to Shop Local You might wish to consider these reasons to shop local in your promotions and marketing: 1. Money stays longer in the local economy 2. It helps nurture the development of communities 3. It helps promote tourism 4. It helps prevent “Clone Towns” 5. Local businesses are good neighbours 6. It’s better for our planet 7. It helps preserve choice and diversity 8. It helps promote competition and business innovation 9. It promotes local democracy 10. You can get an enormous sense of well-being from shopping local 5 July 2010 Town Development Office 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 12 Forum – Charity Golf Day – Sunday 13 June Thank you to everyone who has sponsored a hole for the golf day; Michael Robinson would still appreciate any more offers of prizes for the ballot (2827 4466). Encourage all golfers to come along to Cairndhu Golf Club and support this event; contact the Pro-shop – 2858 3954 to place your name on the time-sheet. Encourage all non-golfers to come to the Clubhouse at 6.00 pm for music and entertainment, prize-giving and the prize draw ballot. For those of you who have tickets to sell, make sure that the stubs are returned for inclusion in the draw! Annual General Meeting – Wednesday 16 June Information has already been sent out about the AGM. It is being held in Caffé Spice starting at 6.00 pm so do come along for the annual review and contribute your views about what the Forum could be doing for local businesses. Larne Alive Bluegrass Concert – Friday 18 June This will be a great night out - concert starts 7.30pm with doors open from 7.00pm. Tickets: £12 Main Theatre / £10 Balcony or pay at the door. Tickets are available from Larne Tourist Information Centre and can be booked by contacting 028 2826 0088. Larne Alive Pirate Festival – Are You on Board? The festival opening parade starts at 2.00 pm on Saturday 19 June going along Pound Street, Victoria Road, Agnew Street and then Main Street and Point Street and back to Pound Street. There will be plenty happening at Broadway during the afternoon. On Saturday 26 June the festival continues with a special pirate circus in Broadway. Larne Business and Trade Directory Did you know that there is a directory available on-line via the Larne Borough Council website – www.larne.gov.uk ? This is a free entry for all businesses which can be updated or changed as you add further details to your business (eg. new website or e-mail address or new products or services). This gives you free marketing and promotion for your business so you can highlight your products and services to local customers as well as to a wider audience. This is an important way to raise your business profile. You may also be able to find a local supplier through the directory. To register your business in the directory, contact Ledcom at 028 2827 0742 or via www.larne.gov.uk/ business directory and “register your business” section. Window dressing/Visual merchandising Workshops Helping small businesses with the presentation of shop frontage display, using recycled materials, promoting the art of visual merchandising on a small budget, ultimately improving “high street” appearance; tuition includes the importance of window dressing, how to attract customers and improve shop image. Contact Isobelle Hodgson, Visobelle Displays – 01875 812933 or 07843 594190 or e-mail issypiano@btinternet.com Volunteer Now Ballymena and Larne Volunteer Centre has merged with the Volunteer Development Agency and eight other volunteer centres in NI and is now known as Volunteer Now. They are responsive to meeting local volunteering needs and can assist you in developing volunteering opportunities that will be attractive to potential volunteers as well as benefiting you. Find out more – www.volunteernow.co.uk or contact Irene Surgenor on 028 2826 0460 or e-mail irene.surgenor@volunteernow.co.uk Larne Sports Fundraiser – 3 July This is being organised by Make A Difference Worldwide and gives the opportunity to promote your business and help make a contribution. For details contact Edwin Tease on 07825 291437 or www.makeadifferenceworldwide.com events. 7 June 2010 Town Development Office 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 10 DSD Larne ReStore Project DSD has identified Larne Town Centre as an area to benefit from this programme in this financial year; it aims to provide assistance to revitalise neighbourhood commercial districts and small businesses in targeted areas of need across Northern Ireland. In order for it to progress, a local steering group is required to confirm the boundary of the area of benefit, to develop a costed action plan and then to drive the delivery of these actions. The action plan needs to be agreed for submission to DSD by the end of September 2010 and all the works need to be completed by the end of March 2011. The grant budget available is £150,000 and no match funding is required; claims for payment of invoices would be made direct to DSD so no financial administration systems would be required to be established locally. The funds must be spent on activities which are over and above the responsibility of statutory and public authorities. The Regional Development Office of DSD have suggested that part of Main Street from Cross Street to Broadway (which includes about 30 businesses and properties/sites) should be considered as the main area of benefit; this would fit with the draft Town Centre Masterplan and also ensure that the size of the area enables the funds available to make a noticeable impact. This location will also make an impact on adjacent areas. They have suggested that Larne Traders Forum (and the emerging Larne Town Centre Partnership) should play a lead role in facilitating the development of an agreed action plan and in managing its implementation. Possible elements which could be part of the action plan include: Improvements to shop fronts, gable walls - painting and new signage Temporary treatments for vacant shops and gap sites Branding to promote the shopping area Promotional activities and marketing materials Directional signage Features to enhance the shopping experience – street dressing, lighting, flower displays The elements to be included will be decided and agreed by the businesses themselves. Information Day on sale of tobacco products Arrangements are still to be confirmed; what days and times would be most suitable for retailers to attend a one hour session delivered by Larne BC Environmental Health officers? Master Classes for Independent Retailers These are being offered as part of the Larne Retail Revival Programme and are open to any trader located in the borough. Tuesday 20 April – “Why Retailers should be trading On-Line” Wednesday 28 April – “Dynamic Management for Retailers in Difficult Times” Classes take place at Willowbank Business Park from 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm and cost £10 each; contact Lestas Consulting at phone: 7032 2900 Café Culture The Department for Social Development (DSD) is currently carrying out research on the level of existing and emerging pavement café culture in towns and cities across N Ireland. While pavements are the responsibility of the Department for Regional Development (Roads Service), DSD has been tasked with this work to look at possible future regulation. They have assessed the current level of “pavement use” and will be selecting a sample of locations for in-depth surveys. Promotion opportunities for the Forum Co Antrim Pipe Band Championships – Saturday 5 June – flyers promoting town centre Pirate Festival – Saturdays 19 (with parade) and 26 June - themed window displays, promotions Clover Day – Saturday 3 July - themed window displays, promotions Broadisland Gathering – Friday 3 and Saturday 4 September – goody bags for visitors, flyers promoting town centre 14 April 2010 Town Development Office 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 9 Larne “Retail Revival” Programme Last chance to apply – the date for submission of expressions of interest is Tuesday 23 March. Contact Michelle Lestas, Partner, Lestas Consulting: phone 028 7032 2900 or email: info@lestasconsulting.com Social Event – HOG ROAST NIGHT The Hog Roast Night is taking place on Saturday 22 May at East Antrim Boat Club, starting at 7.30 pm and finishing late. The Hog Roast will be served at 8.00 pm and musical entertainment will be provided by La Bido. Tickets are available from the Town Development Office; they cost £10 each and are a real bargain. This should be a great night so put this date in your diary and book your tickets now. Your views are sought on the following: Information Day for local retailers on sale of tobacco products to underage persons Larne BC Environmental Health is proposing to run some 1 hour sessions in May (probably week beginning 10th) for retailers who sell cigarettes; your views on where and what times such sessions should be run are sought as they are seeking to involve as many retailers as possible. If you have any suggestions, please contact the Town Development Office and we will pass these on. Draft Regeneration and Housing Bill The Department for Social Development is seeking comments on this draft bill which outlines the responsibilities which will be transferred to Councils from DSD under the Review of Public Administration. These include town and city regeneration including comprehensive development schemes, public realm and environmental improvement schemes as well as the Living Over the Shop scheme. The draft is available at www.dsdni.gov.uk/consultations and responses are required by 26 April 2010. Draft Toursim Strategy for NI The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment has published a consultation document on the above through to the year 2020. The document is available at www.detini.gov.uk/consultations and responses are required by 12 May 2010. Next Forum meeting Date for your diary - Wednesday 14 April at 5.45 pm in Sir Thomas Dixon Building. 22 March 2010 Town Development Office 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 8 Larne “Retail Revival” Programme Lestas Consulting has been appointed to deliver this programme and are making contact with independent retailers throughout the Borough. Further information about the programme is attached. This is an exciting opportunity for owner managers to obtain one to one support to agree and implement a Retail Improvement Action Plan for your retail business equivalent to 2 days of consultancy. This will be delivered at a time and place to suit each participant; there will also be optional Master Classes on a number of topics. There are 10 places available, so complete and return your expression of interest as soon as possible. Support Organisations for those who are out of work Larne Development Forum has recently published a leaflet which outlines choices and support schemes for people who find themselves out of work. The leaflet is available in venues throughout the Borough and also on the Council website (Local Support Leaflet). As an employer, it is hoped that you will not need the information for your own staff; however, the leaflet is there if you need it or it may be of interest to family members in your staff households. Copy attached for download. Tradelinks programme This is designed to assist the micro-enterprise sector in developing their ability to undertake or expand their cross-border trade. This could be through e-commerce or eBay. Further details of the programme are available locally through Ledcom – 2826 9973 – geraldinesmyth@ledcomwbp.com “Larne’s Got Style Night” – Friday 23 April The award winning night returns in April. If you feel there might be an opportunity for your business to benefit from some level of participation in this stylish event, please contact the Town Development Office. Tickets will shortly be available for purchase from the Tourist Information Centre. Larne Alive in June and July Events on Saturday 19 and 26 June will be based around a “Pirate Festival” with maritime themes. It is hoped to promote maritime menus, pirate promotions, window displays, etc which will contribute to the whole town centre being part of the festival. Suggestions welcome!!! Saturday 3 July will be another Clover Day, celebrating connections with South Carolina and the USA. Next Forum meeting Date for your diary - Wednesday 14 April at 5.45 pm in Sir Thomas Dixon Building. 4 March 2010 Town Development Office 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 7 Support for Small Businesses and Retailers A number of initiatives and support programmes which may be of benefit to your business have been announced recently. These include the following: Larne “Retail Revival” Programme Larne BC through its Economic Development Forum is currently seeking consultants to manage and deliver this programme for up to 10 local independent retailers. The programme will provide specialist mentors which will work with each retailer on an individual basis by preparing a health check, carrying out a mystery shopping exercise and developing an improvement plan. Once the consultants have been appointed, they will be seeking to recruit participants. If you would be interested, please give your details to the Town Development Office and we will pass these to the consultants. It is hoped that the programme will be under way in March. Business in the Community – Connections programme Connections is a new initiative, funded by ESB Independent Energy, designed to bring together the owner-manager of a small to medium sized enterprise with in-house experts from large companies who will work with them to address specific development issues, such as marketing and sales, financial planning and procedures, business and strategic planning, environmental management, staff recruitment and management. For more information contact Heather Major, Business in the Community on 9046 0606 or e-mail: heather.major@bitcni.org.uk Small Business Rate Relief Scheme This is a new Northern Ireland Government initiative that will provide some business owners with rate relief. The amount of relief will be dependent on the NAV of your property: 1. Business properties with an NAV of £2,000 or less will receive a reduction of 50% relief 2. Those with an NAV of more than £2,000 but no more than £5,000 will receive 25% relief. There is no application procedure as Land and Property Services will apply it automatically to all businesses that qualify, in their April 2010 bill. It is intended that the scheme will have a life of 5 years and it will be reviewed before then to establish its effectiveness and value for money. For questions about your eligibility or how the scheme will operate, contact Land and Property Services on 9025 2111. Foundation Degree in Retailing This is a two year programme delivered on a part-time basis in the six NI Regional Colleges. Fees are supported by the Department for Employment and Learning. For more information contact, Nicola Reel on 3026 1116. Firmus Energy Firmus Energy requested to come to a Forum meeting to make a presentation. As there are now fewer meetings, the details of their promotion are as follows: www.savewithfirmus.co.uk or contact Colin Robinson, sales representative on 9442 7866 or 07500 836082 or crobinson@firmusenergy.co.uk Next Forum meeting Don’t forget, the first meeting of 2010 is on Wednesday 10 February at 5.45 pm in Sir Thomas Dixon Building. Agendas and papers have already been set out to you. Members Information If you want to circulate any information about your business to other members, please pass this to the Town Development Office for inclusion in the Update News. Remember that you may also promote your business through the Larne Traders Forum website. Larne Alive M Casagrande has stepped down as a member of the Larne Alive Committee, any member interested in joining would be very welcome - contact Mariann for further details. 3 February 2010 Town Development Office 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 11 HOG ROAST NIGHT The Hog Roast Night is taking place on Saturday 22 May – have you bought or booked your tickets yet? Partners, friends, colleagues are all welcome to come along. Contact the Town Development Office as soon as possible to book your tickets. DSD Larne ReStore Project The Forum has agreed to form a local steering group for this project and will be talking to traders and businesses over the next few weeks to develop a costed action plan for submission to the Department for Social Development. The project will have a core focus on businesses on Main Street between Cross Street and Broadway but will also include provision for marketing, street dressing, signage and floral displays which will impact on the whole of Main Street. Traders Forum Charity Golf Day – Sponsors and Golfers required The Forum agreed to arrange a single annual event which will support local charities – this charity golf day is taking place on Sunday 13 June at Cairndhu Golf Club. Michael Robinson (2827 4466) is the co-ordinator for this event and is seeking sponsors for each hole - £50 – please think about who you could persuade to support this, sign them up and let Michael know. Prizes for a ballot on the day are also being sought. Please also let all your golfing colleagues know about this chance to play - £5 for golf club members; £15 for visitors (please contact the Pro-shop at Cairndhu to place your name on the timesheet). The more people that come and play, the more funds will be raised. There will be plenty of prizes, a ballot draw on the day and music in the Clubhouse from 6.00 pm. Doing your bit for the environment Stay competitive on the high street, increase sales, keep costs down………and save the planet. By controlling carbon emissions, not only can retailers manage their environmental impact, but they can also reduce costs, attract customers and enhance their reputation. The Carbon Neutral Company provides tips on how to reduce carbon emissions on the high street – www.carbonneutral.com Larne Alive Pirate Festival Watch out for promotional opportunities connected with the festival which runs from 19 until 26 June – treasure trail, window displays, promotions, menu offers. Acceptable Enterprises Larne (AEL) is a social firm based at Ledcom providing disadvantaged people with the support to access further education, training and employment opportunities. To sustain their work with vulnerable adults and young people, they operate as a business and provide services which can generate income. Their new colour photocopying service offers small businesses a very competitively priced service while supporting a worthwhile cause. Contact Graeme or Emma to discuss your requirements – Phone: 2827 4992 Larne Echo Details of advertising rates in this new free newspaper are attached. Research snippet! Despite 86% of the population using retail loyalty cards on a regular basis, 50% of shoppers do not think it is worthwhile collecting points, according to a new on-line survey of nearly 1,500 British adults. The report, from YouGov SixthSense, also found that 93% of consumers would continue to shop somewhere even if the retailer scrapped its loyalty scheme. Only 17% of respondents choose where to shop based on their participation in loyalty card schemes. 9 May 2010 Town Development Office 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk
UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 23 How safe are you on our roads? Larne District Policing Partnership is holding a themed meeting in public on Thursday 3 March at 7.15 pm at Drumalis Conference Centre, Glenarm Road, Larne. Experts from the PSNI, Road Safety and others will give a presentation and then answer questions. Everyone is welcome to come along and give views on road safety and put forward any questions they may have. For queries and information, contact Wendy Carson, DPP Manager – phone: 2827 2313 or e-mail: carsonw@larne.gov.uk TownTalk “Towns facing financial pressures are turning to internet projects as a means of maintaining high levels of service delivery and at the same time reducing their costs.” TowTalk is a national network of town centre web sites offering information for residents, shoppers and visitors. There are currently over 160 towns and cities involved in the Project, which has been supported in England by the regional development agencies, the DTi and the European Regional Development Fund. New towns are joining the network and new features are being added every month. News, events and comprehensive Shopping and Business directories ensure that your visit to town is a more pleasurable experience, thanks to TownTalk. Visit www.towntalk.co.uk and let us know if you feel this might be beneficial for Larne. Police Street Surgeries These surgeries continue to be a popular way for members of the public to meet neighbourhood officers and raise issues relating to community safety, crime, disorder and other matters in a familiar environment. Street surgeries have recently been held in Waterfoot and Portstewart lasting one to two hours. Would they be useful here? Next Forum meeting The next meeting is on Wednesday 16 March – agenda and papers will be issued shortly. 28 February 2011 Town Development Office - 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk
UPDATE NEWS Issue No. 24 (v2) e-marketing Business Clinic This clinic is taking place at Willowbank Business Centre, Millbrook on this Thursday 24 March from 10.00 am to 1.00pm and is being taken by Invest NI e-solutions centre who are experts on e-marketing including use of Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc for the benefit of business. Places are still available – contact Ledcom on 2827 0742. Tendering Success Workshop Details of this workshop to be held on 29 March have already been circulated. If you currently tender for contracts or feel that this would benefit your business, this workshop will provide practical knowledge and skills. Contact LEDCOM at 2827 0742 Consultation on new Good Relations Strategy Larne Borough Council seeks to work with the community and voluntary sector and other bodies to build on and support the development of good relations work in the Borough. Specifically it places emphasis on building a shared future and society for citizens of the Borough and visitors to it. The Council has appointed the Venturei Network to carry out an audit to inform our new Good Relations Strategy. Public sessions are being held as listed below – 30 and 31 March and 5 April. A4E (Action for Employment) and Apprenticeships NI initiative A4E has been contracted by the Dept for Employment and Learning to deliver work-based apprenticeships at NVQ Level 2 and 3 free to employees in the areas of Business and Administration, Retail, Customer Service and Warehousing. There is an employer bonus of £500 per employee that successfully completes the full training framework. Contact Wayne Greenaway for further information – 9074 4944; full information attached. Business in the Community – Roddensvale Challenge BITC is carrying out a challenge on 5 April at Roddensvale to create an outdoor classroom including planters for growing vegetables and trellises for fruit bushes. They are looking for some materials (listed below); if you would like to assist this project, please contact the Town Development Office as soon as possible. BITC will arrange press and pr coverage for businesses participating in the project. Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme The Health Promotion Agency and local health visitors are encouraging Larne businesses to participate in this scheme. An increasing number of mums are checking the web-site to find out where they will be welcome. Details of the “Breastfeeding Welcome Here” scheme are at www.breastfedbabies.org – your business must fulfill membership criteria and those participating will be given recognition through ongoing promotion and awareness raising, including website listing and window sticker. Larne Times – Member Profiles These will be continuing on a regular basis; if you would like your business to be included, please contact Pauline at 2826 3083. Levy on Out of Town Stores welcomed - Budget proposals to impose a levy on out-of-town shopping developments to boost small businesses have been welcomed by Northern Ireland independent traders. The Department for Finance and Personnel will bring forward proposals to extend the small business rate relief scheme, meaning more companies could qualify. Finance Minister Sammy Wilson would subsidise this through a levy on large retailers like major out-of-town shopping developments. At present, around 16,000 small businesses receive a reduction in their rates bill. If the proposal goes ahead, many more could benefit, based on their rateable value. Mr Wilson said: "I will be looking to cross-subsidise this by applying a levy to large retail properties, including major out-of-town shopping developments which have not fared too badly during this downturn compared to our smaller businesses." Details of the plan have yet to be decided upon. Belfast Telegraph 4/3 Town Centre Manifesto launched by ATCM –NI The Association of Town Centre Management in NI has launched a Manifesto for Town Centres which seeks to keep the importance of town centres at the core of the political debate in the coming Assembly and Local Government elections. This is the first time that an ATCM region has agreed such a manifesto and it illustrates the importance of speaking with one voice to emphasize how towns and cities can become successful centres of the community and drivers of the economy. www.atcm.org (Policy documents – “ATCM NI A Manifesto for Town Centres”) Royal Wedding Holiday Friday 29 April – Opening Hours Are members open for business on Friday 29 April? The general feeling seems to be that most will be open – let us know and we will pass on the message. Dalriada Festival This new festival is taking place in Glenarm on 17 – 19 June and is expected to attract a large number of visitors to the local area. Check for further information on www.dalriadafestival.co.uk 21 March 2011 Town Development Office - 28263082 or 28263083 bellh@larne.gov.uk mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk Business in the Community – Roddensvale Challenge Can you help with any of these? Sleepers 14 – for raised beds Blocks/flat – 36 regular blocks 20 (1’’ x 4’’ x 8’’) – for edging paths and trees Pegs for supporting the edging Boarding & fence posts for recycling area 12 fence posts & boards Stones to make paths – 1 tonne/4 bags 2 x trellised to support fruit bushes Chicken wire – 2 rolls Fence posts – 8 foot – 2 x 12 Nails 4 inch galvanized – 1 large bag Wall plate metal LARNE BOROUGH COUNCIL GOOD RELATIONS STRATEGY COMMUNITY CONSULTATIONS Have Your Say You are invited to attend one of the open meetings as detailed below; Larne Town Larne Museum & Arts Centre Wednesday 30th March from 7.00m – 9.00pm Larne Lough Ballycarry Community Centre Thursday 31st March from 7.00pm – 9.00pm Larne Coast Glenlough Community Centre Tuesday 5th April from 7.00pm – 9.00pm Whilst you do not need to register to attend it would be useful from a planning point of view if you could confirm your attendance by contacting Larne Borough Council through one of the following contact channels: Contact: Pauline McAuley Email: mcauleyp@larne.gov.uk Tel: 028 2826 3083 / 028 2827 2313