Wirral-based ‘SME incubator’ Whitfield Business Support has vowed to unite the community and boost the local economy in its new role as chair of Heswall and District Business Association (HBDA) for 2016.
The directors of the Heswall firm, Nik Ellis and Justine McLaughlin, are looking to strengthen relationships in the town centre by bringing together businesses of all sizes including home-workers driving the local economy.
HDBA has been active for around four years in its current form, but Justine McLaughlin and Nik Ellis are convinced there remains plenty of opportunity to develop a unified voice to promote the extensive good work of this varied business community.
Whitfield Business Support is already pumping energy into a new HDBA website and amplifying its key messages through social media sites including Facebook and Twitter.
Mr Ellis said there are around 350 thriving businesses in the Heswall area which provide an ideal chance to increase the current embryonic membership for the good of all.
“The HDBA’s mission is to drive inward investment, raise brand awareness and galvanise the business community,” said Mr Ellis. “Justine and myself feel Whitfield Business Support has the marketing, promotional, advertising, website and social media skills which perfectly match the professional approach needed to move HDBA forward.
“A great deal of important groundwork has been put in place by good people over the last couple of years, but there is still a lot of work to do as we’re at the foothill of the mountain.
“However, we feel able to step up to the plate and bring the expertise necessary to take the association to the next level to compete with other retail centres. This is our chance to showcase Whitfield’s talents and give back to the community while bringing much more dedication and professionalism to various projects.
“There are also many separate groups in the area which share our common goal and should be brought together for better communication and co-ordination between them to bring the public and shoppers to the High Street.
“Besides the 350 businesses in and around Heswall, we also want to give a voice to the many home-based workers who contribute to the local economy and can also help to give a stronger, collective voice to publicise this town.
“To achieve this, our aim is to build bonds with these presently disparate people and groups to greatly increase the association’s membership from its current modest level and get it up into triple figures by the end of the year.
“One project which should convince the public and potential members of our ambition is the way our business services can help to create a week-long Christmas Festival to blend together activities including Heswall’s lights, market, fayre, Christingle and other church carol services, plus late-night shop opening.”
With their new responsibility of chairing the HDBA, Whitfield Business Support’s directors feel they can look far beyond their own company’s ambitions and express their passion for the overall success of the local business community and help the desire of local firms to grow.
Ms McLaughlin said: “The HDBA remit will enable Whitfield Business Support to take charge of important local events and become more deeply involved in others like Heswall/Wirral Art Festival to maximise impact locally and beyond the peninsular.
“Being a passionate local business, and as part of our social responsibility, 2016 will see us delivering widescale pro-bono work in the local community and Heswall in particular.”
For more information on Whitfield Business Support visit the website: to www.whitfieldbusiness.co.uk or call 0151 342 0679.
Notes to editors
Whitfield Business Support background
WBS launched in April 2015. Based in Heswall, Wirral, it provides office space and a dynamic and proactive ‘business incubator’ service helping a range of firms from start-ups to SMEs. Its support package includes initial start-up, accounting and funding to IT, recruitment, consultancy, mentoring, marketing, web and graphic design, and branding support. WBS has more than 60 clients on the books ranging from post address, virtual office and full-time tenants. Whitfield Business office hub has around 15 full time tenants. It considers itself the best serviced office in Wirral and the only to provide this specific range of services. Seven full-time staff driving the business support vision, including two new recruits who joined in March 2016.
Heswall and District Business Association (HDBA)
HDBA has dynamic plans to attract more people to the popular Wirral town and rejuvenate its attractively traditional High Street by organising more initiatives and events through the year, including the launch of a Heswall Loyalty Card scheme.
The Association has already started a parking refund scheme, for customers to receive money back towards the cost of parking if they spend a certain amount in participating businesses.
Among the events involving the HDBA are the Farmer’s Market, Heswall Arts Festival, Scarecrow Trail, A Taste of Heswall (food and drink festival, showcasing local independent suppliers), Super Hero Day (business owners and staff fancy dress charity event), Christmas Festival with a Christingle church service, Santa’s Grotto and Christmas lights (courtesy of local fundraising).