Firms can deliver with a difference
FREE, fast and friendly – that’s the motto of Llanelli town centre’s new electric cargo bike delivery scheme, DeliverElli.
Co-ordinated by Ymlaen Llanelli Business Improvement District (Bid) and funded by the UK Government, the initiative will allow town centre businesses to offer an eco-friendly delivery service to their local customers free of charge.
The scheme has been made possible following a partnership application to the UK Community Renewal Fund by Ymlaen Llanelli, Llanelli Town Council and Carmarthenshire County Council.
In total, the partnership has been awarded £177,550 of funding from the UK Government, which is being put toward a variety of projects, including DeliverElli.
Customers can request delivery from participating businesses when ordering over the phone, or by shopping in person and requesting delivery for items that are too heavy to carry home. Neither customers nor businesses have to pay for use of the service.
Chair of Ymlaen Llanelli Lesley Richards said: “DeliverElli is unlike anything we’ve done before and we can’t wait to see what our businesses make of it. Delivery services have become a huge topic of discussion in the business community over the past two years, so to offer a delivery solution for those that thought it impossible before feels great – not to mention that it’s free and easy to use.”
The electric cargo bike was bought by Carmarthenshire Council with funding from the Welsh Government’s Local Sustainable Transport Covid Response Fund.
Cllr Emlyn Dole, leader of the council and cabinet member for regeneration, said: “We have committed to looking at all options as we work towards net carbon zero and economic recovery, and these e-cargo bikes are a perfect example of the kind of difference we want to make.
“During the pandemic we saw businesses starting to offer local deliveries and click and collect services for customers, and we hope these e-cargo bikes will support those who are continuing to evolve their businesses.
“We will be loaning these bikes free of charge, giving businesses a unique opportunity to expand their services to local customers.”
Cllr John Jenkins, leader of Llanelli Town Council, said: “DeliverElli is a massive opportunity with enormous potential to really get town centre businesses on the road. The facility to offer bespoke delivery of goods and products from town centre businesses to customers directly gives our traders a direct route from the shelf to the consumer.
“I really hope this delivers a massive uplift in custom for our town centre.”
DeliverElli is the second scheme by Ymlaen Llanelli to be funded by the UK Community Renewal Fund.
Last month, the Bid launched its AmbassadorElli scheme, which has seen two ambassadors supporting local businesses and welcoming shoppers to the town centre.
The UK Community Renewal Fund support is also being used by Llanelli Town Council to build a promotional website and app, while the Transforming Tyisha project is putting money toward a community hub study, grassroots community projects, support for resident-led initiatives, and workshops in local schools to encourage children to get involved in their community.