Business Group

Concentrating on initiatives which support local businesses. Chair VACANT. Fortnightly Breakfast Meetings, 7.30am - see DIARY

A to Z of local distinctiveness for Ely

An exercise to identify what people feel are the most distinctive aspects of Ely revealed the following. It is proposed to take this forward in the form of a pictorial poster or leaflet promoting the City.

A	Almonry	N	Networking
B	Bishops Palace	O	Oliver Cromwell
C	Cathedral	P	Porta
D	Ducks	Q	Queen Etheldreda
E	Eels	R	Riverside
F	Fens	S	Stained Glass Museum
G	Galleries	T	Trains
H	Hereward	U	Undercrofts
I	Isle of Ely	V	Vineyards
J	Jubilee Gardens	W	Wide Skies
K	Kings School	X	Xmas Lights
L	Loos	Y	Yachting
M	Markets	Z	Zzzzzzzzzz

Ely Shoppers’ and City Guide

The Perspective teamed up with the Ely Standard and the Ely Traders’ Association to re-design and re-launch its pocket Shopper’s Guide and is looking to produce and distribute to every household another edition of its City guide to Ely early in 2009 which tells readers everything they ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask.

Tourism support

The Perspective works closely with the tourism officer to provide a bank of volunteers for events. These help with a whole raft of things from helping fill goody bags to meeting and greeting tourists arriving in the City.

Right: Ely’s Town Crier and then Mayor and Mayoress greet passengers on a day tour to Ely by steam train. Perspective volunteers usually meet these trains and give out goody-bags containing tourist information and flyers as well as answering questions from passengers.

In Business for Ely

The Ely Perspective Business Group aims to help businesses in and around the city to grow and prosper.As part of its efforts to do this it has provided an on-line business directory for Ely. It also works with East Cambridgeshire District Council on initiatives to encourage businesses to Ely see http://www.business-relocation-east-anglia.co.uk/

The numbers of businesses in Ely with an on-line presence is also below the UK average.

Anyone, anywhere with an internet connection can have your details to hand at the click of a mouse.
It allows your business to reach new customers, locally and further afield.
It makes it easy for customers to contact you when it’s convenient for them.

On-line directory

The on-line directory of businesses in the Ely area provides every business wishing to have one with a free entry comprising; name, contact name, phone number, address and e-mail address.

Bringing in new customers
Achieving (as a directory) higher search engine rankings than a stand alone website so if even if a business is already on-line the directory could bring new visitors to its site.
Targetting the local area to attract local people
Large, frequently changing site will top the rankings even before optimisation

Getting into training

By providing free or cost-effective training workshops during which staff and business owners will learn to build their website.

The site they have built will remain on-line free for the first month after training. After that a small monthly fee would be required.

Training is proven to have a positive for staff moral
The business already has an on-line presence by the end of the training day, staff don’t have to “get round” to putting their training into practise.
An on-line presence makes a company easier for people to find and can potentially bring new customers.

BASE for future growth

Through its membership of the Action for Market Towns the Perspective has run training programmes for companies in and around Ely through the BASE initiative. BASE offered support, advice and useful information to anybody who owns or works in an independent business in a market town or village in the east of England. It delivered a series of free short business training courses, seminars and workshops in this area covering subjects from first aid to customer service, visual merchandising and staff motivation. If funding can be obtained, it is hoped to repeat and develop this programme in the future.

Christmas Lights Switch On

In partnership with City of Ely Council and the Lions Club, the Perspective organises an evening of fun and entertainment around switching on the Christmas Lights. Some 5000 people regularly attend this event which includes stage acts from local music and theatre groups, roving choirs, a funfair, festive fayre, stalls, open top bus rides and much more. Star Radio provide the MC and links and a celebrity to assist the Mayor in switching on the lights.

Business Group Action Plan for 2008/2009

Activities	Key tasks	Timescale	Costs/potential funding source
Act as a voice for businesses in Ely and hinterland	Hold fortnightly breakfast networking meetings with key topics. Promote A City For All Reasons logo	Fortnightly	None (delegates pay)
Support and influence delivery of Ely Masterplan, Local Development Framework & Economic Devt. Strategy	Members input and review/consultation meetings including with other working groups	Ongoing	None
BASE (or equivalent) Training	Work with Action for Market Towns & others for funding opportunities to deliver appropriate training for local employers/organisations	By March 2009	None (Could contribute to funds)
Ely Online Business & Networking Directory	Programme of development to increase take up, include community/voluntary organisations and directory of networking opportunities. Maintenance of contract	June-Dec 08	£500 to include maintenance
Retail/Business loyalty scheme and shoppers guide(incl online)	Decide on form, price up, gather support, work with ETA ECDC & press. Consider “Transition Town” member.	Agree prog. by 11/08 for 2009 start	£500
Shared use community asset.	Identify opportunities and work with partners/other orgs to acquire an asset	Ongoing	None yet
New residents roadshows (2) and comprehensive City Guide	Work with ECDC, press and partners to deliver, raise awareness, build capacity in West areas	Spring 2009	£600 +sponsorship from businesses, advertisers, ptnrs
Tourism support	Attend Tourism forum as member, determine and deliver complimentary activity e.g meeting and greeting steam trains, offering volunteer bank.	Ongoing	£500 + freebies from businesses etc.
Christmas Lights Switch On Evening	Work with City Council, ETA & other partners to arrange prog of activities	Annual	Self financing through sales, sponsorship etc.
BUDGET FOR 2008/9			£2100