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News and Action Groups
SUBs secures Web Portal Funding   Stour United business has been awarded a Warwickshire County Council Community Development Fund grant of £5,000 to develop a web portal for the Stour Valley. The web portal is expected to play an important role in the development of business services and promotion of Stour Valley businesses.   Commenting on the award, SUBs Chairman Ian Cooper said “I am very grateful to the effort that has been put into this proposal by members of the SUBs committee, and to Warwickshire County Council for realising what an important investment this is for supporting the rural business environment of the Stour Valley
Chamber of Commerce Election Event   The Chamber of Commerce have arranged an election event for the South Warwickshire branch on the 20th April at 8am at the Welcombe Hotel in Stratford.   Candidates, including those from the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have agreed to attend and outline their plans for supporting local business.   This event will last for about 1 1/2 hours and will have speeches from each candidate, set questions and questions from the audience.   All SUBs members are invited to attend this event as part of our affiliation arrangements with the Chamber. Can you all get your thinking caps on regarding local questions we want to ask them.   For more details or to reserve a place please contact Graham Aylott, Policy Officer, Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce:  grahama@cw-chamber.co.uk  T: 024 7665 4116
Wool Fair Charity Auction   COME AND JOIN US AT A FANTASTIC FUNDRAISING AUCTION AT THE GEORGE HOTEL IN SHIPSTON ON STOUR NEXT SATURDAY 17TH APRIL, STARTING 7.30 P.M.   With loads of wonderful items generously donated by local and national businesses, this promises to be a real knock-out! There’ll be a professional auctioneer with all the ‘patter’ and a champagne Happy Hour (or rather, two!), from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., to help get you in the mood.  Items to bid for include:   ·         A meal for 4 at The George ·         A glider flight ·         A pizza oven ·         Various hampers ·         Therapy & beauty sessions (acupuncture, pedicure, etc.) ·         A gorgeous leather handbag ·         A year’s subscription to ‘Searchmate’, a well-respected and successful dating agency with nationwide coverage ·         Jewellery ·         A wax jacket ·         Crystal goblets ·         Drum lessons ·         Beautiful Alpaca wool – softer than soft, and enough to knit a sweater ·         Lovely cushions with tie-backs for garden seats ·         Rugs   .... and much, much more!  All brand new!   All proceeds will be in aid of the Shipston Wool Fair, a fun, family-friendly town event to be held this year on 31st May, and which without the support and sponsorship of local and national businesses, could not survive.  The Wool Fair not only provides people with a great ‘feel good factor’, but also itself makes generous donations to local charities and good causes.   For more information, contact ALISON HENDERSON on 01608 661911 / 07828 996568
Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Manifesto 2010 Please find attached below the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce manifesto 2010. The document has been prepared in advance of the General Election which is seen as the most important election in more than decade. It should be read in conjunction with the "Delivering for Britain" manifesto produced by the British Chambers of Commerce also attached below. The manifesto looks at issues that the Government need to tackle such as making tax and regulation less of a barrier to business, making sure that the economy is rebalanced as quickly as possible and making sure the renewal of the UK's infrastructure base is continued. The local document looks at issues and views from local businesses which will need to be focused on to drive forward Coventry and Warwickshire as a place for businesses to thrive. To read the documents please click on the titles below Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber Manifesto British Chambers of Commerce Manifesto If you have any comments or questions please email Graham Aylott on grahama@cw-chamber.co.uk or telephone 024 7665 4116
Have Your Say On The Local Transport Plan for Warwickshire. Fill in the online survey: http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/Web/corporate/pages.nsf/Links/3128397FE2D94789802570540053DB27/$file/ltp3_survey.htm
More markets planned for the Shipston An independent survey by the town council was distributed to the 74 town centre traders. This produced a very good response from the traders giving a clear indication that they were generally in support of events aimed at encouraging people into the town to enable Shipston to “showcase” its town centre.   The council has subsequently proposed that it looks into staging 3 – 4 of these type of events (the continental markets) each year, starting with a French Market on the 11th April and a return of the Italian Market on the 18th July this year.
Kate King becomes SUBs trader representative   Stour United Businesses are delighted to announce that we have asked Kate King if she would act as our representative in providing a liaison between the committee and Shipston’s toen centre traders.   As part of SUBs ongoing endeavours to support Shipston businesses, we are planning a range of projects and events, some of which are aimed at bringing direct benefits to town centre traders. As such, it is important that we gain feedback and opinion from the traders.   As you may know, Kate runs Ivy Heart on Market Place, and was born and raised in Shipston. She is passionate about Shipston town centre traders and motivated to providing the support and promotion to sustain what it represents.   You can speak to Kate at Ivy Heart or phone on: 01608 664461…… or if you prefer, e-mail at ivyheartltd@btconnect.com
SUBs gets go ahead for Local Producers Fair   Stour United Businesses are grateful to Stratford District Council for the award of £1,500 towards the promotion and staging of a Local Producers Fair expected to be in May this year. The event, which will be a B2B event, is intended to provide local producers of all descriptions to showcase their products and services to local traders.   The intention is to make everyone aware of what is produced and can be sourced locally, and to promote and encourage the use of local products.
Shipston Wool Fair As you know, the 2009 Shipston Wool Fair was a great success, attracting many visitors to the town and providing fun and entertainment for residents and visitors alike. With the support of the Town Council the Organising Committee has decided to hold another Wool Fair next year, which will take place on Bank Holiday Monday 31st May, 2010. Our aim is to make this a QUALITY EVENT that really puts Shipston on the map! We are particularly keen that the Fair should have a greater ‘spread’ (both in terms of location and the type of entertainment on offer), to the benefit of the many small businesses that make our town the quality destination that it is. Do you have a special skill or field of interest that could help in the planning of next year’s Fair? Or would you simply be interested in contributing in some way? The Organising Committee would like to expand its membership, and we recognise that the local business community has a wealth of experience and knowledge that would be good to tap into! Why not join our next meeting ? You will be very welcome! For any further information, please contact Alison Henderson on 01608 661911 or shipstonwoolfair@zen.co.uk.
Get involved in the Olympics The government and the London Olympic Organising Committee have stated that the 2012 Olympics will offer opportunities for businesses across the country to benefit by supporting the wide spectrum of services required to stage a successful event. But how can local businesses get involved? One way is to sign up to the Compete for Business web based search facility. It is a free of charge service which enables businesses to publish their information and specify those areas in which they operate and are therefore interested in seeking opportunities. Once completed, you will be notified of such opportunities as they become available. One recent example is a request from an organiser of maritime events in the Solent, relating to the Olympic sailing regatta, who offer corporate hospitality packages and are seeking companies with relevant web sites to assist in promoting these for 2012, for which they pay a commission on bookings generated. For further information and to register for this marketing opportunity, visit http://www.competefor.com/london2012business
SUBs produces Retail Guide for Shipston Literally “hot off the press”! There is a fantastic new guide available for shopping and eating in Shipston-on-Stour in South Warwickshire. This publication is now available in all Shipston shops and eateries, as well as selected hotels, information points and locations around the Stour Valley area. The attractive, fold out leaflet shows where all the local shops and eating establishments are located, on an easy to use map, and has all their contact details in one handy chart. Aimed at making visitors to the area aware of the large selection of unique shops and good places to eat in the historic market town of Shipston-on-Stour, this guide is another in the suite of heritage literature available to support the town and Stour Valley villages and to raise awareness of a hidden gem on the doorstep. Shipston is the only town in the South Warwickshire area that has over 74 shops, galleries and places to eat. Virtually all of these shops are independently run, by people who are passionate about what they do and who still believe in service. For a fantastic shopping day out, it is well worth exploring this treasure trove of shops, galleries and eateries at the edge of the Cotswolds. This guide to shopping and eating has been put together by Stour United Businesses, in support of local traders and South Warwickshire Tourism, with funding from Stratford District Council.	Shipston Retail Guide