Projects
MAKING WINCHESTER CLEANER, SAFER AND BETTER FOR BUSINESS
At Winchester BID we undertake numerous projects to ensure Winchester remains a clean, safe and welcoming destination for shoppers and visitors, and a profitable place in which to conduct business.
Our work is divided into 4 key categories to achieve our aim as a Business Improvement District (BID). Please follow the link s in the drop down section of this page.
If you would like any more information on any of the BID projects, please get in touch.
Winchester BID also co-ordinates other partnership projects such as the Winchester Business Excellence Awards, Winchester Christmas light switch on event, Diverted Giving and The Winchester Business Exhibition and Networking event.
CURRENT BID PROJECTS
Winchester Business Excellence Awards 2013
Over 90 businesses from across the Winchester District gathered last Wednesday (30th January) to officially celebrate the Launch of the Winchester Business Excellence Awards 2013.
The launch party signalled the start of the competition which sets out to promote local business, foster competitiveness and reward excellence. Companies within the Winchester district have the opportunity to demonstrate why they should be judged number one across a range of categories including ‘Carbon Smart Business of the Year, ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ and the prestigious ‘Denplan Business of the Year Award’. This year the organisers were pleased to announce a new category for the awards, Excellence Online, and welcome 3 new sponsors Denplan, Moxhams AV and The Breeze.
Stephen Gates, Managing Director, Denplan comments: “We are delighted to become principal sponsors of the 2013 Winchester Business Excellence Awards. These prestigious awards will not only be a mark of significant achievement, but they will also acknowledge the strong business growth and contribution that the local business can make to a growing community. These awards offer an opportunity for businesses to showcase their success and nominate each other.”
Amy McCartan, Winchester BID and awards partner, comments:“We were pleased with the launch event and thank everyone involved. The 2013 business awards will be an exciting event as we have 3 new sponsors and 1 new category. This is the 11th year of the awards and we are looking forward to receiving the entries.”
The competition culminates in a glamorous ‘black tie’ evening reception which is scheduled for the 14th June 2013. Entries for the awards close on Friday the 8th March 2013.
For more information about the awards or if you would like to enter please visit www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/wbea.
Homelessness Week in Winchester
Get involved in Homelessness Week and support our local charities
Winchester BID is asking you to help make a difference for the homeless in Winchester by either putting a small donation into any of the Spare Change for Real Change boxes to be found in shops around the city or by donating food, items of clothing and blankets.
Poverty & Homelessness Action Week will begin on Saturday 26th January 2013. The week aims to raise awareness and funds for projects which work to tackle poverty and homelessness in the UK.
Spare Change for Real Change in Winchester works with three local charities which all provide support for the less fortunate in our community. The joint partnership provides a network of support for those in Winchester unlucky enough to find themselves without the safe and stable home environment, which most of us take for granted.
The Salvation Army works to meet the needs of the homeless by providing clothes and food parcels as well as advice and referrals.
Trinity Winchester provides open access during the day to help the homeless and those in danger of becoming homeless, including basics such as hot meals, washing facilities and opportunities to make real changes through counselling and learning.
Winchester Churches Nightshelter provides overnight accommodation and specialist support for those who are homeless. The Nightshelter also helps homeless people to find long-term accommodation, restore their self-esteem, social structures and independence and to re-build their lives.
The Nightshelter would like to invite you to attend its annual homelessness week event being held on Wednesday 30 January 2013 in the Performance Hall at the Discovery Centre in Winchester from 7.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. Speakers from Oxford Brookes University, St Mungo’s (which houses 1,700 people every night in the London area) and the Nightshelter will consider how to improve the environment for the homeless. Refreshments will be available and doors open at 6.30 p.m.
Please bring any donations to the BID office located at 10 Parchment Street during the week of Monday 28th January – Friday 1st February 2013 - Anything you can give will be greatly appreciated and given directly to the three charities concerned.
Spare Change for Real Change donation boxes are located in the following businesses:
Intercash Bureau, Toni & Guy, Warrens, Royal Bank of Scotland, Charters Estate Agents, Blues, 19 Little Minster Street, The Screen, Bangkok Brasserie, The Discovery Centre, Sweet Treat Company, Hargroves Cycles, Brasserie Blanc, Prezzo, The Old Gaol House, Arcana, The Westgate Inn, The News Shop, Tanoshii Fusion, The Brooks Shopping Centre, Stinky Fish, Hasta Shop, Dutton Gregory Solicitors, Alfies, Bell Fine Art, Bengal Sage, Fuzzi, Movers & Shapers, Winchester Travel, Creative Crafts, Bang & Olufsen, Jack Wills, Zizzi, Parchment Jewellers, Pizza Express, Bishop on the Bridge, Clarks, Robert Dyas, Cupboard of Health, Beales and Phones 4 U.
If you would be interested in supporting the scheme by accommodating a donation box in your business, please contact Emma Shotter from Winchester BID by emailing emma.shotter@winchesterbid.co.uk or call 01962 841000.
Winchester Business Crime Reduction Partnership
Winchester Business Crime Reduction Partnership (WBCRP), coordinated by Winchester BID, is a pro-active partnership between city centre businesses and other organisations; Winchester City Council, Winchester Police and Winchester BID. It delivers a structured and professional approach to deal with all categories of crime and disorder that will result in a more appropriate response by the criminal justice system in dealing with these persistent criminals. It is designed to form part of the local community safety strategy to ensure that Winchester remains a safe and pleasant environment for all who live, work, shop and visit the city centre.
Winchester BID has asked Emma Shotter, previously the BID Office manager, to co-ordinate the project along with managing the Shopwatch and PubWatch schemes.
Emma Shotter, Crime Reduction Manager, Comments:
“I’m delighted to have this new role within Winchester BID, co-ordinating the different aspects of crime management in the City. By working closely with organisations such as The Community Safety Partnership, Winchester City Council CCTV and Hampshire Constabulary we will be able to provide businesses with access to a range of benefits”.
Membership will be open to all businesses that trade in or within close proximity to the city centre. For more information please contact Emma Shotter on 01962 841000 or email emma.shotter@winchesterbid.co.uk
For more information about the project please visit the website www.winchwatch.co.uk
Christmas is Coming!
2 Weeks until Christmas Light Switch On...
Thursday 15th November will see the City transformed into a Winter Wonderland.
Join a whole host of live performers as we count down to the switching on of Winchester’s spectacular Christmas lights at 6pm. Acts on stage include; the cast of Aladdin Christmas pantomime, the University of Winchester Choir, Integr8 dance will be preforming throughout the night. We have 2 main acts this year ready to entertain you which will be announced on the BID website in the next couple of days!
Start your Christmas shopping early and visit the festive market stalls, open from 3pm-7pm, located on The Broadway, showcasing the best in food, gifts, toys and crafts that Winchester has to offer. There will also be a variety of children’s entertainment for you and your family to enjoy.
We have received a few enquiries about opening times over the festive season, so we want to know what your business is doing. We have created a short survey (only 6 questions!) designed to gauge business activities throughout November and December, into January 2013.
To submit your opening times please click here and fill in the quick survey.
FREE Parking in the City
In partnership with Winchester City Council, The BID has agreed the following FREE parking times in the City:
Parking is FREE* after 4pm in Winchester every Thursday from 15th November until the 3rd January 2013. FREE parking every day after 4pm the week leading up to Christmas from Monday 17th – Saturday 22nd December 2012.*Free parking is not applicable to barrier controlled car parks (Middlebrook Street). 27th December not included.
The BID has funded extra Park and Ride Sunday service on 25th November, 2nd, 9th and 16th and 23rd December. 9am until 7pm. East car parks (St Catherine’s & Barfield) to The Broadway only.
For more information please call 01962 841000.
Purple Flag week 2012
Winchester is proud of achieving Purple Flag status for its safe and vibrant evening and night time economy. Enjoy Purple Flag Week from 22 – 30 September 2012 with the range of activities below.
Events:
International Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition
The Gallery will showcase specially selected photographs from winners and finalists in the fourth year of the competition.
Winchester Discovery Centre, 21 July – 30 September , 9am – 7pm weekdays
A Government Inspector
Northern Broadsides deliver an absurdly funny, clever and strangely familiar performance. Local restaurants cater for pre-theatre meals.
Theatre Royal Winchester, 25 – 29 September, 8pm
Wired Wessex: Apprentices – making them work for your business
An open invitation networking event partnering with Winchester City Council, focusing on apprentices and how they can help local businesses.
Guildhall Winchester, 27 September, 6pm
University of Winchester Freshers Fayre – students only!
Including a dedicated Pubwatch stand giving advice and tips on how to have a safe night out.
The University of Winchester, 22 September, 11am – 3pm
Transmission
Running at The Railway in association with Blissfields Festival, Transmission presents bands to local industry contacts whilst also providing artists with live recordings for their own use and to aid their future in the music industry. You must be 16 or over to attend.
The Barn at The Railway, Monday 24 September, 8pm
Roots Open Mic Night
One of the South Coast’s longest running and most popular Open Mic Nights held at The Railway. Just turn up with your musical instrument, plug in and play: or simply come and watch. You must be 18 or over to attend.
The Attic at The Railway, Monday 24 September, 8.30pm
Live music at O’Neill’s
Performances from One Weird Fish, Steve Carroll, Gasoline Alley and Space Fighters.
O’Neill’s, Friday and Saturday from 9.30pm and Sundays 2 – 5pm
Special offers
Special offers from a selection of Winchester restaurants especially for Purple Flag week. Take this webpage with you to claim one of these offers.
Bengal Sage - 2 for 1 on starters
Bangkok Brasserie - 2 for 1 on starters
Bistro La Place - Free pudding or coffee with every main course purchased. Monday to Friday lunchtime
El Sabio - 4 tapas and 1 starter (enough for 2 people) for set price of £15
Forte Tea Rooms - buy one get one free on Devonshire Cream Tea if you mention ‘Purple Flag’
Kyoto Kitchen - 2 for 1 on starters
O’Neill’s - 3 courses from set menu for £7.99 if customers wear something purple and mention ‘Purple Flag’
The Wykeham Arms - Free Kir Royale with set menu. Monday to Friday lunchtime
Guided tours and Greeters service
Sign up for an evening ‘Greeters’ service and be shown around town by someone who knows it well
Discover the local haunts which are off the beaten track or the best venues for live music and entertainment!
Join in an evening tour of Winchester
Buy your ticket at Winchester’s Tourist Information Centre and meet outside Guildhall Winchester to be shown the sights by a professional tour guide.
Tuesday, 6pm – city highlights tour
Wednesday, 6pm – ghost tour
Thursday, 6pm – lamp light tour
Utilities project proving success
Utilities case study – Tanoshii
The Meercat Approach:
Using our remote customer liaisons and on-street savings rangers, we were able to make contact with the client, and explained the procurement service provided to them on behalf of their local BID. We were able to get the authority and necessary documents to move forward with an energy review straight away.
The Benefits:
Within a short period of time we were able to advise the client of their contract end dates, current rates and annual consumption. Tanoshii’s supply was not on particularly high rates, but the client’s bills were still very high due to the large usage. We emailed, called and visited the client several times to advise them of the savings achievable an discuss options.
The results:
Meercat Associates sourced prices using the whole of market, and found prices best suited to the energy usage. We placed both supplies, resulting in an annual saving of over £3,000 on electricity, and over £2,000 annual saving on gas.
If you are interested in saving money for your business through utilities then contact Rishi
Shood, Meercat Associates via 01444 416529, email winchester@meercatassociates.com or read more about the scheme on our BID website www.winchesterbid.co.uk/Greener