*|MC:SUBJECT|*

Go Forth's Update for Stirling Businesses

13/10/2023

(a very happy Friday 13th)

Commissioning City Centre Environment Audit

We have commissioned Keep Scotland Beautiful to conduct regular environmental audits of the city centre as part of the organisation’s efforts to improve the local area.

The environmental charity will provide the Go Forth team with an evidence-led baseline report on the environmental quality and cleanliness of the BID (Business Improvement District) zone.

The audit will be designed to measure litter and other environmental quality indicators affecting the city centre’s appearance and find out what visitors think about it.

It will also examine why observed issues are happening and recommend an action plan for improvements.

The move is the latest in a series of measures undertaken by the BID to enhance Stirling’s overall appearance and make the city centre a more welcoming destination for businesses, shoppers and visitors.

Learn more at https://goforthstirling.co.uk/go-forth-stirling-commissions-environmental-audit-of-city-centre/

Stirling Local Development Survey

Stirling Council is seeking views from businesses and organisations with interests in the area to help prepare the next Stirling Local Development Plan.

If you haven't completed the survey yet, we encourage you to complete the Business and Organisations Survey 2023 at
https://engage.stirling.gov.uk/en-GB/projects/business-and-organisations-survey-2023

The portal also has a General Public Survey and Children & Young People Survey.

***Closes 26 October 2023

Sign Up Today for FREE Climate Hub Net Zero Training.

Invest one hour of your time to get your net zero planning underway. 24th October 10:00-11:00.

Book Now: https://netzero1.eventbrite.com

Scottish Album of the Year

The Scottish Album of the Year Award is coming back to Albert Halls again this month on October 26th.

It's one of the most highly anticipated and exciting nights in Scotland’s musical calendar and your business could be there.

Would you like to promote any offers to ticket holders? or would you like to offer a gift to the artists (a meal etc) for social media exposure?

Let us know.

Learn more at https://www.sayaward.com/

Upcoming Road Closure

Starting on Monday Corn Exchange will be closed for six days. Deliveries and customers can still access King Street and Spittal Street.

Have a look on the council website for the scheduled works and alternative routes:
https://www.tellmescotland.gov.uk/.../traffic/00000302059

In:Stirling - Getting to Know Other Businesses & Things To Do In the City

Did you know that a big part of our customer-focused brand, Independent Stirling, is getting to know businesses, the people who run them and sharing their stories with the world?

We also create blog posts to help everyone visiting Stirling navigate the City's independent business scene.

You can find these on the Independent Stirling blog.

We're always on the lookout for more stories and themes to write about, so if you'd like to get to the top of our list, get in touch or just let us know if there's a topic you think we should cover.

Our social media channels (mainly Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) all focus on promoting City Centre businesses, events & city centre developments. We also run a separate monthly newsletter where we share digested information about new business openings, business updates, upcoming events and more.

We also run the City Centre wifi, which has advertising capabilities.

We encourage businesses to utilise these channels to help you amplify your messaging. All you need to do is tag us in your social media posts or send us an expression of interest. Our team is also available to offer social media training and advice.

Not only are these channels available to your business but since many of you are customers of other businesses in the community, we thought some of you would like subscribe to our other newsletter to stay in the know about what's happening in our amazing City and things you can do in your spare time. Y ou can subscribe to it here.

If you prefer following updates on social media, then head over to Facebook or Instagram and give us a follow to not miss a thing. Our social media links are at the bottom of this newsletter.

Go Forth's Business Support Available

Shop Front Improvement Grants

The popular shop front improvement grant scheme is back.
If your shop needs a little sprucing up, you could benefit from a little help from us with our matched contribution.

Learn more at goforthstirling.co.uk/shop-front-improvement-scheme

Shopsafe Scheme & Retailers Against Crime Subsidised Membership

We're working on rolling out a pilot radio scheme for retailers - find out more here and get in touch if you'd like to have a radio.

We subsidise the cost of Retailers Against Crime (RAC) membership to all of the BID’s independent businesses (levy-paying and voluntary members)

Gain access to informative, in-depth training programmes and use SentrySIS system to log incidents, gather intelligence and immediately receive alerts about situations or individuals to be aware of. Reply to this e-mail to become a member.

Independent Stirling

Independent Stirling is our campaign that is all about celebrating and promoting Stirling independent businesses. Each of the businesses displays the ‘I’m In’ sticker so everybody that passes by notices and chooses to support local.

All of the businesses are included on the independentstirling.co.uk interactive map of businsesses and we create regular blog posts on different topics about them.

Advertise Your Business on Stirling Free WiFi

Over a year ago we switched on the Stirling Free City Centre WiFi. Every BID levy payer has the opportunity to advertise their business on the system or gain insights from the data gathered by the system.

View this information pack or get in touch to learn more and to arrange your advertising space.

Footfall Data

Thanks to us, Stirling City Centre now has footfall counters in key City Centre Streets. Footfall data reports can be accessed at goforthstirling.co.uk/footfall-data-reports

Free Online Training

Our platform gives organisations the opportunity for flexible, cost-free training which could help them train new staff at no cost.

The programme is particularly aimed at the city’s hospitality sector and includes a number of key courses that are a mandatory requirement for some businesses and may be enforced by your respective departments. See the list of available courses.