I hope that you have all seen our recent publicity about the appointment of Felicity Gains who has joined Ilkley BID as the new Manager. I will be working with Felicity throughout the month to ensure a smooth handover before I leave to concentrate on my own business. A link to the press release is here - https://ilkleybid.co.uk/new-bid-manager-appointed/
I was hoping to be able to introduce Felicity to many of you in person however this isn't going to be possible with the ongoing restrictions but she will be out and about as soon as this is appropriate.
It has been a pleasure to get to know so many of you over the last 18 months and I wish you all every success as you continue to navigate through the continuing Covid challenges. I know the BID will be in safe hands with Felicity and the team and that they will continue to do all they can to support you.
With my very best wishes,
Helen.
Lockdown Trails For businesses that are still operating a service in lockdown, whether it be food takeaway and delivery or retailers still operating online please let us know if you haven't already so we can list you on the LoyalFree Lockdown Trails. We are actively promoting BID businesses on the Discover Ilkley Facebook and Instagram pages. To gain more exposure and coverage please tag @DiscoverIlkley in your social media posts to help increase your reach.
Discover llkley - New Website
The Discover Ilkley website is now live. There are still quite a few businesses that are not listed in the directory and we may have missed some retailers if they have not responded to our request for information.
Thank you to all the businesses that sent in their details. Please check your listing on the website and get back to us with anything you would like changing. For those that have not yet responded to our email requesting your information please do get in touch with your details. Please email your future events to events@discoverilkley.co.uk which will be published on the LoyalFree app and the website. www.discoverilkley.co.uk
We would like to thank all the businesses that took part in our Discover Ilkley at Christmas campaign. Avanti Coffee House, Sturman & Co and Tyler James Pets were joint winners of our Festive Shop Window competition. The interactive competition ran on the LoyalFree app and members of the public voted for their favourite shop window. Names of three random voters were drawn and they have won a £25 voucher to spend at an Ilkley business of their choice.
Around 150 people took part in the interactive Elf Trails that took place throughout December and winners have now been selected to win a prize. Thank you for the generous donations of prizes from; The Art Shop, The Riverside, Wilkinsons & Partners, Dacre Son & Harley, Waltons Furnishings, The Fitting Room, Martinez, Clip and Climb, The Little Teashop and Olicana Stationers.
We also ran a Social Media Competition for a week mid-December, asking for comments from the public to why they loved Ilkley at Christmas. The winning comment: "There's nothing more festive than taking a walk up on Ilkley Moor, then strolling back into Ilkley through the walkway of Christmas lit trees, grabbing a warm mulled wine and visiting both small & large businesses. Should it snow... " came from Natasha Kucharski who chose a £50 voucher to spend at Lishmans (pictured below).
HR & Employment Law Advice
HR & Employment Law Advice is still available to all BID members for issues and advice regarding:
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Redundancies
Restructures
Terms and conditions of employment
Recruitment
Contracts of employment, policies and procedures
Legal documentation
Training
Disputes, grievances and disciplinary support
We will be deciding at the end of the month if this service is to be renewed and we encourage all business to get in touch now if they wish to utilise this service. Email info@ilkleybid.co.uk to arrange a consultation.
Use The LoyalFree Marketplace to sell your productions and gift vouchers online.
The need for an online presence is vital now that many businesses have been forced to close again. BID members can use the LoyalFree Marketplace to sell products, services, gift vouchers etc online. This service is ideal for those that do not have a website/ecommerce solution and is so simple to set up: This short video explains how easy it is:https://youtu.be/nPlCpmbuzhg
Ilkley Cow and Avanti are selling their gift vouchers on the Ilkley page here: https://www.loyalfreemarketplace.co.uk/ilkley. There is no fee or commission taken from sales except for the standard small payment processing fee taken by the payment gateway.
For those that haven't registered for the LoyalFree App and wish to do so, please emailinfo@loyalfree.co.uk stating Ilkley BID with your business name asking them to add you to the app. Once registered on the app you will then have a login where you can add a loyalty scheme, offers and events if you wish.
If you have any questions about LoyalFree please do get in touch.
Free workshops - Bradford Microbusiness Service
Bradford District Microbusiness Support are running a series of workshops to help Small Businesses. The workshops will focus on several key topics which will help businesses to adapt and look towards a more positive future for 2021 and beyond.
Book your FREE place here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/bradford-district-microbusiness-support-26167868769
No Child Cold Campaign
This lockdown is predicted to be in one of the coldest winters in 30 years with recent temperatures hitting below -4 in the district. An estimated 75,000 children are now learning at home, with a predicted 21,000 living in homes where affording the extra heating is difficult.
Following these considerations Bradford District residents, businesses, faith and voluntary sectors have come together to pledge that ‘No Child will be Cold’ as a result of this lockdown. The No Child Cold Campaign is run through Give Bradford and administered through Citizens Advice; funded through a combination of charitable giving from individuals, and an ask from our district businesses.
The scheme extends support to families who are in need as a result of reduced hours, furlough, and unemployment as a result of the pandemic. Referrals will come from schools and the food bank network. The scheme appreciates that this is a difficult time for many businesses and are extremely grateful of the generosity of businesses who have been able to step forward to support the pledge that there will be ‘No Child Cold’ in the district as a result of this lockdown
Gordon Rogers, Chair of Trustees for Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation, said: “Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation is proud to support Bradford District’s No Child Cold campaign with our £10,000 donation. The impact that coronavirus is having across the district with children remote learning throughout the winter months means some families will be really struggling to cover increased energy bills and we hope this will help those vulnerable families that are impacted the most. We are joining key district stakeholders in calling on support from other businesses and organisations to help out if they can.”
We will be posting this message on our Social Media platforms and ask if you could share these posts. Sharing the message could help find more donations and supporters. Any financial donations for this emergency campaign, big or small, will have a positive and immediate impact on all these families and their children.
If you would like to discuss this further or have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Jenny Cryer – jenny.cryer@bradford.gov.uk. Any donations will be made through the charity Give Bradford and paid directly to energy suppliers thought Citizens Advice on behalf of residents in need who apply.
Wishing you all the best and hoping to see you all soon,
The Ilkley BID Team
We would like to thank all the businesses that took part in our Discover Ilkley at Christmas campaign. Avanti Coffee House, Sturman & Co and Tyler James Pets were joint winners of our Festive Shop Window competition. The interactive competition ran on the LoyalFree app and members of the public voted for their favourite shop window. Names of three random voters were drawn and they have won a £25 voucher to spend at an Ilkley business of their choice.
The need for an online presence is vital now that many businesses have been forced to close again. BID members can use the LoyalFree Marketplace to sell products, services, gift vouchers etc online. This service is ideal for those that do not have a website/ecommerce solution and is so simple to set up: This short video explains how easy it is:
