In this newsletter:
1) A new Chair
2) Business Watch - sign up today and help cut crime and antisocial behaviour
3) Help us ensure we're supporting the right events
4) First aid training
5) Help support Hastings Bonfire
6) Easter Bunny Fun Days
7) Bike1066
8) Defibrillator locations - do you have a defibrillator?
9) Christmas lights
10) Love Hastings website
11) Celebrating Hastings' history
12) Dates for your diary
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A new Chair for the Business Improvement District
At the AGM Colin Dormer stood down as Chair and was voted in as Vice Chair. Catherine Parr from the White Rock Hotel was unanimously voted in as his replacement, and will now be guiding the progress of the project.
Her main goals are to get more involvement from local businesses in the decision making and planning process to ensure that the BID's money is spent in a way that brings maximum benefit to the town as a whole.
If you are interested in joining the board of the BID or being part of any working groups around issues such as crime and safety or events planning please get in touch at office@lovehastings.com.
Minutes of the AGM can be read here.
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Sign up today for Business Watch and help cut crime and antisocial behaviour
You may have seen new signs appearing throughout the town recently with the Business Watch logo on them.
These are being put out by the BID team to promote membership of the recently re-launched scheme which helps local firms work together to cut down on crime and antisocial behaviour in their area.
Many will know Business Watch by the names of Shop Watch and Bar Watch.
Between them these schemes currently have some 150 members across the borough, each paying a small annual fee to support the administration and also cover the costs of the radio network and access to a secure database and instant messaging system.
The good news for businesses in the BID area is that this membership fee is now included in the levy payments which are collected annually by the council.
Find out more about how you can sign up and get access to the radio network, secure database, and a range of other benefits. Details here.
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Help us ensure we're supporting the right events
The BID has always supported local events to help increase visitors to the town, footfall, dwell time and spend. To help the Directors and team decide which events to support in future years, we're looking for businesses to come forward with percentages to show increase or decrease in footfall or takings on the following key events:
Fat Tuesday - Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd March 2019, compared to the same dates of 2018.
Pirate Day - Sunday 15th July, and the Sunday before and after (8th and 22nd July)
Pride - Sunday 26th August and the Sunday before and after (19th August and 2nd September).
Bonfire Night - Saturday 13th October and the Saturday before and after (6th and 20th October)
Although we are collecting data for the above events, the information will be used to help influence decisions for all upcoming events, not just those listed.
Please contact Chloe (marketing@lovehastings.com) if you are happy to help.
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First aid training
We are successfully running first aid training for levy payers once a month.
We are working with a local reputable company to deliver fully accredited one day Emergency First Aid at Work training for businesses.
The cost to the business is £20pp for up to 5 employees. £40pp for every additional employee. The usual cost to put an employee through training is £85pp.
If you are interested in putting staff on to a course, please contact Chloe (marketing@lovehastings.com).
Please note there is only 12 spaces per course, and course spaces will be offered on a first come, first served basis.
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Help to support one of the biggest events in town
Hastings Bonfire is taking place on Saturday 19th October. Hastings Borough Bonfire Society is an entirely volunteer-run Society, that fundraises and works year-round to put on the spectacular event.
Unfortunately, the Society is seeing essential costs creep up and is working hard to find new ways to fundraise and reduce costs. You could help with the fundraising by placing an advert in their A5 programme.
£180 - full page
£90 - half page
£45 - quarter page
4,000 programmes will be printed, and will be sold (suggested donation) in local pubs and shops from mid-September.
To book an advert, please contact Chloe (marketing@lovehastings.com). Chloe will put you in touch with the right team, but also help you with any artwork if required.
There are other ways to support this event too. Find out more on their website.
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Easter Bunny Fun Days
We had a great, sunny two days at the Easter Bunny Fun Days in the town centre on Good Friday and Easter Saturday!
Lots of families enjoyed free activities including crafts, face painting, carousel rides, gardening, photo booth and BMX-ing, with thanks to local businesses and community groups.
View all the photos here.
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Bike1066
We were also proud to support Bike1066, which took place on the bank holiday weekend. A free climbing wall proved to be incredibly popular, and hundreds of people enjoyed the free live motorbike racing which was being shown on a large screen in Wellington Place.
View all the photos here.
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Defibrillator locations
Recently, our Business Ambassador Peter assisted with an incident where a defibrillator was needed. It has highlighted to us the need to know where this life-saving equipment can be found in the town centre.
Does your business have a defibrillator? Please tell us!
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Christmas lights
Christmas is a year-round project in the BID office! We're currently investigating options of installing festoon style lighting in areas that can't have lamp column lights. These areas include Havelock Road, Trinity Street and Claremont.
Christmas lights are costly and can be complicated to install, especially when the power source has to be outside! We will continue to endeavour to include all levy paying roads in the lights programme, however it is a lengthy process and unfortunately we cannot guarantee that it is always possible. We'll keep you posted!
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Love Hastings
Have you seen our new lamp column banners? They are being used to advertise the Love Hastings website, which lists all levy paying businesses in the town centre, as well as information about local history, news and events.
The banners will be up year-round, unless there are other bookings.
Please check our website to ensure your business is listed and the information is up-to-date. Don't forget there is also an advertising opportunity to all levy payers. Contact Chloe to book an advert space on the website.
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We also have new deckchairs, which are to be used at our events, and at the carousel in Wellington Place. If you feel your business or event would benefit from the use of our deckchairs, please let us know!
We have a variety of event equipment that may be useful to levy payers. Equipment includes barriers, PA system, ribbon bunting (50m), outside extension leads, gazebos, tables and much more. We can also offer advice and support on issues such as licensing for events. Just get in touch if we can help!
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Celebrating Hastings' History
We're currently working on highlighting the history of John Logie Baird and his experiments in Queens Arcade.
From next week, pop in to the Arcade to read newspaper articles from the Hastings Library archives, and to learn more about the incredible inventor who made Hastings his home during his experiments.
We are also looking in to ways to celebrate the life and travels of Annie Brassey, a much-loved world-traveller, who would bring curiosities from around the world back to Hastings in the mid-late 1800's. The Brassey name is commonly found in the town centre, however very few people know the history behind it.
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Hastings Pirate Day - Sunday 14th July
Hastings Pirates will be taking on another World Record attempt for 2019 - the largest human image of a boat (a record currently held by the United Arab Emirates)!
It's Pirate Day's 10th anniversary this year, so watch this space for exciting updates!
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