With events heralding the start of the Festive season,
December sees the start of the Shop Local campaign.
Spending locally makes an enormous difference to the
Torridge economy where 63p of every £ spent local, stays
local, supporting local jobs and families. It’s good for the
planet and kinder to the environment too, with locally
sourced and delivered products significantly reducing our
carbon footprints.
The Shop Local campaign is supported by our local Councils
and Sean Kearney, Head of Communities and Place at Torridge
District Council said:
“Shopping locally will be a key part to helping Torridge
businesses recover financially from the pandemic. Supporting
local jobs for local people has the feel-good factor we can
all tap into. You’ll also get a high level of service that’s
goes hand in hand with locally owned and managed businesses
and the chance to find a gift that’s a little bit different
and stands out. Our local food retailers will also be
showcasing all the local produce our farmers in the region
are renowned for.”
Late Night Shopping dates in Bideford:
Bideford Pannier Market
Thursday 2nd December
Bideford Mill
Street
Thursdays 9th, 16th and 23rd
December
Firstly, thank you to those of you who came along to the AGM
last month – it was a great turnout and so good to see you.
At the AGM, Jane Maynard who was our President decided to
stand down due to work commitments – she did this with a
heavy heart as the Chamber has been dear to her for many
years. Also, our Treasurer stood down. Luckily, we have
two Vice Presidents and one of them, John Puddy has kindly
stepped in as Acting President for the time being. But
currently, we are without a Treasurer, so do bear with us
while we get our “ducks in order”.
We are rapidly approaching the festive period and see that a
lot of businesses have already started decorating their
windows in readiness. Before long the Christmas Lights will
be on and we will be in full swing with the Town buzzing
with shoppers.
The Executive Committee is meeting and looking at the future
role of the Chamber and what it can deliver, and it would
seem from your responses to surveys that networking, social
media presence, advice and information are the key factors.
This is what the Chamber will strive to do, now that life is
returning to some sort of normality. There will always be
the need for caution though, so venues for events will need
to be carefully sourced. The Pandemic has hit Chamber quite
hard, being that it is very much an in-person organisation,
but we hope to bounce back and be the support should you
need us.
Some good news just in – there are several free parking days
in the Town Centre leading up to Christmas, these will be in
Bridge Street, The Quay, The Manor and the Pill (unless
otherwise indicated).
Saturday 27th November 10 am – 6pm – Sponsored by
Bideford Town Council
Saturday 4th December
All
Day – Small Business Day sponsored by Torridge District
Council
Sunday 5th
December
10am – 6pm – Bridge Street, The Pill – Sponsored
by Bideford Town Council. This is Christmas Lights
Switch On and road closures will be in place.
Saturday 11th
December
10am – 6pm – Sponsored by Bideford Town
Council
Saturday 18th
December
10am – 6pm – Sponsored by Bideford Town
Council
Made in Devon is a new ‘buy-local’ business support
scheme from Devon County Council and is looking to help
125 businesses a year with free scheme membership.
Benefits include Trading Standards advice and being part
of major promotional campaigns that will make the most of
new consumer trends to support local, independent
businesses and artisans.
To qualify you need to be a Devon-based business that
takes pride in supporting other local companies and goes
out of your way to use materials and ingredients produced
in Devon.
North Devon and Torridge District Councils have joined
forces once again with their economic partners at North
Devon+ to offer a brand new comprehensive package of
business support. The initiative is aimed at all businesses
in the area that have been impacted by the COVID-19
pandemic.
The new programme will support the “Restart” phase of the
“Northern Devon Road to Recovery” strategy by focusing on
help and support designed to have an immediate impact in
addressing the negative fallout caused by the COVID-19
crisis. The premise is to support the northern Devon economy
as it emerges from lockdown, whether this is around
reopening and reorienting businesses; supporting displaced
employees; or providing initial assistance for places to
reopen.
The package will provide businesses with free one to
one business support tailored to the needs of their business,
to help them to recover and thrive, and will include:
Support to new entrepreneurs –
Assisting individuals to explore self-employment and
business start-up as a positive choice.
Support business transformation and innovation – Supporting businesses to explore
opportunities, innovate and transform themselves in line
with changed markets and environment – for survival,
safe operating, and growth.
Small grants for business support and
development – As part of the support package businesses will be able
to work alongside a business adviser to apply for a Small
Business Support Grant.
Torridge District Councillor Bob Hicks – Lead Member for
the Economy said:
“The aim of the programme is to target the hardest-hit
sectors of our local economy and help small businesses not
just to survive, but to take the next step to thrive within
a changing operating environment. To achieve this the
support packages will be flexible and geared to the needs of
individual businesses.”
North Devon District Councillor Malcolm Prowse – Lead
Member for Economic Development and Strategic Planning
Policy added:
“With our economic partners at North Devon+ the programme
will be shaped to be inclusive and relevant to all
businesses – a true ‘levelling up’ approach. It will help
contribute directly to the recovery of the area across
Northern Devon in helping to create new jobs, new
businesses, and support existing businesses to develop new
skills and ways of working and collaboration.”
For more information on the programme and how to book your
appointment businesses should contact [email protected] quoting Business Boost, with their name and contact
details.
Torridge District Council provide £100K funding to larger
towns to support recovery post Covid-19
Torridge Councillors have approved the transfer of over 62%
of the £161K funding it received from central government
under the “Welcome Back Funding” scheme to the Town Councils
of Bideford, Great Torrington, Holsworthy and Northam. The
money will be used to support the Towns respective reopening
projects as the country begins to emerge from lockdown and
restrictions.
The move recognises the important role Town Councils will
have in helping high streets to reopen safely and help the
economy “build back better” from the pandemic. Torridge
Council will also be using the retained part of the funding
to support coastal resorts and important tourism sector as
they prepare for a surge in summer visitors this summer.
This will include additional Street Marshals in Bideford
supporting the night-time economy and increased public
toilet provision and waste and cleansing services in resort
hot-spots. Other projects have already been implemented such
as the painting of the Sea Wall in Westward Ho! to create a
more appealing entrance to this important Blue Flag resort.
The District Council will work with the Towns through
delivery partnership arrangements but the expectation is
that Towns will also manage their own opportunities and
priorities, decided at a more local level.
The formula for allocating the funding was based on an
allocation of 70% based on the number of properties in each
area and 30% on the geographical area of each Town Council.
Under these arrangements Bideford will receive around £40K,
Northam £34K, Great Torrington £18K and Holsworthy £8K.
Accountability for the money spent will be managed by
Torridge.
Torridge District Councillor Bob Hicks – Lead Member for the
Economy said: “We very much hope that the easing of
restrictions on business operations will see a resurgence in
their fortunes and the funding will go some way to ensuring
that this return to normality can be achieved safely. Giving
Towns some autonomy over the spending will allow them to
focus on local priorities with support from the District
Council in the mix as well.”
