BID posters will boost city firms
Vital info for public over Christmas
Stirling’s Business Improvement District (BID) has launched a range of initiatives to support city traders through the Covid-19 restrictions and during the run up to Christmas.
Posters are being created for shops and restaurants to display in their windows which highlight whether they are open as usual or currently open for takeaway/click and collect only. A range of online training courses are also being offered for Stirling business owners and employees.
Go Forth Stirling project director Danielle Mcrorie-smith said: “With many businesses closed during the Tier 4 protection level period, it’s once again a difficult time for our traders. We’re doing all we can to support them especially in the vital trading weeks running up to Christmas.”
Go Forth has also set up a new page featuring gift ideas from independent traders - www.goforthstirling.co.uk/ christmas-gifts-ideas-from-stirlingbusinesses - featuring homeware, books, music, jewellery, art, plants, toys, fashion, food, drinks and beauty products, plus gift voucher suggestions.
The businesses will be promoted on the BID’S social media during the run up to Christmas and there will be a Go Forth Advent giveaway with shopping vouchers from a range of Stirling businesses on offer as prizes.
Details of the BID’S training courses - which are available to all businesses, their staff and self-employed individuals based in Stirling - can be found at www.goforthstirling. co.uk/online-training. The training platform gives organisations the opportunity for flexible, cost-free training and is particularly aimed at the city’s hard-hit hospitality sector.
It includes several key courses which are a mandatory requirement for many hospitality businesses such as the Alcohol Licensing Awareness Course (Scotland).
Ms Mcrorie-smith added: “We have lots of training courses still available including the Alcohol Licensing course which is an expensive requirement for hospitality business and which we are offering free of charge. It may be a good time for businesses to try some of our courses during the temporary closures for many in the hospitality industry and while some staff remain furloughed.”
The BID also offers an e-commerce grant scheme which has been open for applications over the past few months.
A total of 15 local businesses have so far been approved to receive a £1,000 match-funded grant to revamp their current online trading activity or start up a brand new digital platform.
Further BID projects include working with partners, including City Fibre, on the final stages of delivering a free state-of-the-art Wifi network throughout Stirling city centre by the end of 2020.
The BID also offers a shop front grant scheme aimed at sprucing up the appearance of the city centre generally and helping businesses increase footfall by enhancing their signage and shop entrances.
For more details visit www. goforthstirling.co.uk
It may be a good time for businesses to try some of our courses