sceneMARCH/APRIL 2014The newsletter for businesses and employees in the City Central BID area

Feral feathered foes to be tackled by Falcons.

Swedish DIY giant makes hotel plans for Central Village.

Annual survey finds customer satisfaction at record high level.

Ikea hotel for city

Mystery Shop Awards

Chance to literally stand on the shoulders of giants.

Giant opportunity

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Pigeon problem plan

Bold Street has marked its most successful financial year ever with the opening of 11 new businesses since last April.As a result Bold Street, recently voted one of the best shopping streets by Lonely Planet for its mix of independent shops, currently has a vacancy rate of less than 2% – with the national average at 12%.

The BID district itself has seen its vacancy rate also drop in the past months and now stands at just over 10%.

Despite the high profile closure of Waterstones in February,

Bold Street has welcomed a raft of mainly independent restaurants, cafes and fashion stores – including Liverpool’s first female led bakery at East Avenue Bakehouse and record store Dig Vinyl in this March alone.

The other newcomer’s include:

• Bakchich • Ben’s Chicken • Custom Cupcake Company • Greenwoods • Liberty Flights

• Pulp • Seoul Love • Sida supermarket • Wang Wang supermarket

Jo Byers, co-owner at East Avenue Bakehouse said: “Liverpool is an amazingly social city, and the Bold Street area is thriving with independent shops and restaurants making it the perfect friendly, foodie hub for a new bakehouse.”

Mandy Vere, joint director at News From Nowhere, which celebrates its 40th birthday in May, said: “As the grandmothers on the block, we’re

delighted to welcome these young upstarts to rejuvenate Bold Street with their youthful enthusiasm. It’s still the best street in town to shop, create and hang out.”

Bill Addy, Liverpool BID Company Chief Executive, said: “Bold Street continues to grow from strength to strength and the variety of shops opening shows just how attractive a trading environment the street is.

“The BID will continue to do its utmost to support and promote the street.”

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IKEA hotel for Central Village?

Swedish furniture giant Ikea is involved in plans for a Liverpool budget hotel in the heart of the Central Village development.

The company is working with Marriott International to launch a new global brand called Moxy Hotels.

Marriott have confirmed a Moxy Hotel is in the pipeline for Cropper Street in Central Village, for which two planning applications were submitted last week.

The first is for the former Lewis’s department store to partly knock down the rear of the building and building “a new pedestrian plaza level” across Cropper Street linking into the redevelopment scheme.

It says: “The building will incorporate a combination of uses to include one or more of the following: retail, financial and professional services, restaurant and cafe, drinking establishments, hot

food take-away, office, hotel, casino and live music venue and nightclub.”

A second application involves an eight-storey extension to the grade II-listed Watson building next to Lewis’s and the former Rapid paint shop on Renshaw Street.

• Detailed plans for both applications will soon be available once received by Liverpool city council’s planning team.

IN BRIEFA big hearted City Central welcome to:Dig Vinyl Bold StreetEast Avenue Bakehouse Bold StreetEd’s Easy Diner Lord StreetGreenwoods Bold StreetThe Pudding Club Metquarter

BID Team restructureDue to the departure of former Chief Operating Officer Ged Gibbons, there has been a small restructure of the BID Team.

Bill Addy is Chief Executive of the Liverpool BID Company and oversees both City Central and

Commercial District BID and is tasked with developing any future BIDs.

Bill manages the BID team which comprises of:

• Jenny Connor – Events and promotions officer: Co-ordinates the events diary and commercial bookings to raise revenue to be reinvested in the BID programme.

• Tracey Crosbie – Events Manager: Responsible for on street animation programme and management of all commercial activities within the BID district.

• Mike Doran – Communications Manager: Looks after the PR and Marketing programme of the BID Company.

• Susan Kelly – Business Development Officer: Manages all BID office and business liaison functions and activities.

• Anne Mills – Finance Manager: Oversees BID budget and all BID Levy issues.

• Alvaro Costela Sanchez – Social Media Officer: Manages the BID’s websites and social media platforms.

• Kevin Whittaker – Operations Manager: Co-ordinates on-street operations affecting security, environment and public realm.

• For more information, all contact details of the team can be found at: http://citycentralbid.com/introduction/the-team/

Hawks to control pigeon pest problemCity Central BID has joined forces with a feathered friend to solve a pest problem.

In co-operation with the city council and partners, Hawk Controls LTD have begun nocturnal patrols using hawks and falcons to deter feral pigeons and gulls from nesting and roosting in the city centre.

This natural and environmentally friendly

solution has proven to be successful at various sites from hospitals and university campuses to Everton and Manchester City football stadiums.

City Central BID, which ran a week long campaign in October with Keep Britain Tidy to discourage people feeding the birds, aims to reduce pigeon numbers in the city centre and so reduce the bill of cleaning up after them.

It is estimated 100,000 pairs of breeding urban gulls are on rooftops around town and cities across the UK.

Key sites in Liverpool city centre that have been targeted include the Town Hall, Victoria Monument, LIPA College and Liverpool Playhouse.

• Businesses in the BID district who have a roosting problem are encouraged to contact the BID team on 0151 233 4733 to be put on the hawk patrol roster.

Lights, action!The BID team is currently conducting an audit of street lighting to

identify dark spots in the city centre.If your business environment is poorly lit, please let Operations Manager Kevin Whittaker know on 0151 233 4733 or email Kevin.whittaker@liverpoolcdp.comAny broken lights please report to Liverpool Direct on 0151 233 3001.

Funding deadline for Flyover project

A crowdfunding project has just weeks to go to meet its target to look into turning

the Churchill flyover into an urban park for Liverpool.

The project is the brainchild of entrepreneur Kate Stewart who is lobbying the council to create an urban walkway/park instead of a proposed £3m demolition.The Spacehive funding target is to raise £41k by 15 April to trigger a detailed plan.www.spacehive.com/theflyoverliverpool

Spring clean to sweep city centre

Two street vacuum cleaners, funded via the BID levy, will soon come

into operation.The vehicles will be exclusively used within the BID district to provide additional cleansing to the service provided by council contractors Amey.Hot spots will be identified, with the assistance of businesses, for the vehicles to tackle.The new vehicles will coincide with Amey, who recently completed a six week deep cleanse of Bold Street, establishing a new city centre operational base this Spring.

Bill Addy

IN BRIEFRecord Cruise season underway

Liverpool’s new cruise season has already begun and 2014 will see the city

host a record 46 vessels.The capacity of ships on Liverpool’s cruise calendar ranges from the 694-passenger Azamara Journey to the 3,020 megaliner Ruby Princess, a new visitor which will make four repeat calls.BID will be supporting a FREE cruise connector bus with city centre partners. Details TBA.The full schedule of visits can be found here http://www.cruise-liverpool.com/cruise-call-schedule/of October.

Stage set for Tourism Oscar’sLiverpool’s tourism Oscars is returning for 2014 to celebrate the best of its £3.4 billion per year visitor economy.

The Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards, which will be held on Thursday, 22 May, is now in its third decade and recognises outstanding contributions to the region’s tourism sector.

The sector supports 46,000 jobs and has helped to make Liverpool the 5th most popular destination for international visitors in the UK.

A panel of leading industry experts, help to select the winners who will be honoured at a glittery ceremony in St George’s Hall.

The awards will showcase the very best practice across the industry with 16 categories for excellence across a wide range of sectors.

City Central BID, which hosts its 5th annual Mystery Shop Awards in March, will be sponsoring the Outstanding Customer Service Award.

Mike Doran, Communications Manager at City Central BID, said:

“Celebrating great customer service is core to a successful city centre which is why we’re delighted to see the tourism awards back.

“I hope businesses within the BID have applied to the awards as they play a huge role in making Liverpool such a great place to visit, live, work and play.”

• To purchase tickets for the event, call Cathryn O’Grady at Eventful on 0844 809 4399 or email tourismawards@eventfulonline.com

Kindness campaign boosts charities

Four charities are to receive money collected during a campaign

which urged people to donate to them rather than give to beggars.

The “Your Kindness Could Kill” campaign, supported by City Central BID and several BID businesses in the run-up to Christmas, pointed out that many of those who beg have drug or alcohol addictions and the money they receive from passers-by goes on feeding these addictions.

A total of £6,400 was collected and this will now be handed over to the Whitechapel Centre, the Basement, Young People’s Advisory Service (YPAS) and the Liverpool Homeless Football Team.

Lots of people who beg have drug or alcohol addictions and are in need of our help. Giving money on the street just feeds these addictions.

could kill!

Look out for official collections in the shopping areas.

Please give to local charities instead. They can give real and lasting support to people.

Your kindness

Your kindness will then provide long term help. Isn’t that better than keeping people on the streets?

charity no. 223485

‘Satisfaction Guaranteed’ – finds Mystery Shop surveyCustomer Satisfaction levels in Liverpool city centre have reached an all time high according to a Mystery Shop survey, commissioned by City Central BID.

A total of 140 stores – from independent cafes to national chains - scored an average 86.4% approval rating, up 4% when the survey last took place at the end of 2012.

Of those assessed for the 5th annual survey, a record 30 businesses scored top marks compared to 22 in the last survey.

Equally, a total of 85 businesses scored above 80% and an all-time low of just 20 stores attained a mark below 70%.

Those which got an 80% or better rating will be honoured by Liverpool’s Lord Mayor at an awards ceremony, in The Athenaeum, hosted by Liverpool actor, comedian and writer Neil Fitzmaurice.

Two shops and an eatery scored 100% for the 2nd year running and will each a receive a Store of The Year award.

There will also be awards for Most Improved National and Independent Retailer, the recipients of which both saw their score rise by over 50% from the last assessment.

The survey was conducted by North West based market research company Storecheckers.

Jeff Caplan, Managing Director of Storecheckers, which surveys dozens of cities across the UK, said: ‘’Liverpool has achieved a consistently high approval rating and is among the best that we have surveyed in the UK.

Jeff added: ‘’Shoppers and diners are receiving a good overall experience, but there is always room for improvement especially in sales – and a commitment to staff training will pay dividends at the till.’’

• A more detailed breakdown of the award winners will be in the May issue of Scene, as well as in local media and on the BID website after the awards night.

Free World Host customer training availableAs part of the BID Company’s commitment to supporting the annual Mystery Shop programme, City Central BID will be hosting a series of FREE customer service training sessions in April.

They will be delivered by Academy ONE, who normally charge up to £120 for some sessions, as part of the city’s wider commitment to the International Festival of Business.

The sessions, hosted in the BID company boardroom, will be:

• The Principles of Customer Service – Retail: Thursday, 3 April – 10am to 4pm

• Sales Powered by Service – Retail: Thursday, 10 April – 9am to 1pm

• Frontline Management Solutions – Retail: Monday, 14 April – 10am to 4pm

Due to high demand the BID company can only offer 1 session per business.The places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Further training sessions are being planned.

• To register for a session, please contact mike.doran@citycentralbid.net or call 0151 233 2736.

Refreshments will be provided.

BID to tender for city centre App

Liverpool BID Company is to go out to tender for a city centre App in April.

Set to be both B2B and B2C, the App is one of the five core commitments City Central BID made in its reballot last July.

The App will also be designed to connect City Central businesses to the Commercial BID District.

It is expected the app will be ready to launch in September in time for the return of the city’s university students and run in to Christmas.

City Central BID, 76-78 Lord Street, Liverpool L2 1TATel: 0151 233 2736 www.citycentralbid.comEmail your latest news, views and pictures to: mike.doran@citycentralbid.net You can now follow City Central on and

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Coming up...• Mystery Shop Awards

The Athenaeum 18 March

• BMWi3 tour Williamson Square 21 March

• YNWA – The Official History Of LFC Royal Court Ends 29 March

• Race for Life launch Church St 29 March

• Mother’s Day 30 March

• A View from the Bridge Playhouse 27 March – 19 April

• Victorian Carousel Church Street 3-21 April

• Weetabix sampling Williamson Square and Clayton Square 9-10 April

• Gary Barlow ECHO Arena 11 & 15 April

• Easter bank holiday weekend 18-21 April

• St George’s Day Festival Williamson Square and Queen Square 27 April

• Sound City City centre wide 1-3 May

• The Lion King Liverpool Empire 15 May – 5 July

Liverpool is putting on its dancing shoes for a spectacular St George’s Day Festival on Sunday, 27 April.Now in its second year, the free festival will kick off a jam packed series of events by hosting the launch of the city’s International Dance Day celebrations.In association with City Central BID, MDI will present an afternoon of world dance featuring performances from all the nations which celebrate St George’s Day. There will also be free workshops for the public

to get involved.The focus of the festival, which has been organised to promote the city’s historic St George’s Quarter, with highlights including a historical medieval banquet in Queen Square.There will be a host of indoor fun too at the World Museum, Royal Court, Liverpool Playhouse, Walker Art Gallery and St George’s Hall.Children are being invited to attend the FREE event in fancy dress to enjoy discounts at restaurants in Queen Square and

discounted car-parking at Queen Square Car Park.

Tracey Crosbie, Events Manager of City Central BID, said: “St George’s Quarter is a jewel in the city’s crown and this festival reflects that position and gives the city a chance to celebrate St George’s Day in style.”

A giant opportunityThe team behind the UK’s biggest street theatre spectacular – in Liverpool – are looking to recruit

an army of volunteers.

Preparations are well underway for Memories of August 1914, which will be this year’s national flagship cultural event – marking

a centenary since the outbreak of the First World War.

The event will see the return of the Little Girl Giant and her playful pet Xolo explore the city streets, and the team behind the event are looking for around 500 people to volunteer for a wide variety of roles.

All volunteers need to be over the age of 18 at the time of the show.

Please note, for some of the roles, not only will availability be required across the show (25-27 July) but they will also be required for rehearsals from early July.• To take part, the

application form can be downloaded from www.giantspectacular.com/get-involved. The deadline for applications is Sunday, 1 June.

Now in its 175th year, the Grand National is the No1 sporting event that annually draws the world’s eyes to Liverpool.The development of a ‘festival experience’ in recent years has led to sell-out crowds and a huge boost to the city centre economy.For 2014, City Central BID is promoting the fashion aspect of the races via a campaign with Juice FM and several retailers such as Top Shop and River Island to Hooka and Voodou.And talks have already begun with new sponsors Crabbies to develop the city centre racing experience in 2015.

Crabbies Grand National3 to 5 April

HHHStar EventHHH

St George and the Dancin’Liverpool gearing up for bike scheme

Liverpool’s new £1.5m cycle hire scheme is nearly here.

Set to be the biggest outside of London, the city council is to launch it in the city centre in April.Run by HourBike Ltd, the self-service scheme will begin with 100 bikes at 10 city centre stations rising to 1,000 bikes at more than 100 stations across the city, by March 2015.

Council sets 3 year budget

Liverpool City Council has approved an historic budget with council tax

bills to rise by 1.99%.The council is to oversee a £156 million cut to its budget over the next three years, following a central government funding cut of £173m over the last three years, hitting the city with a 58% funding cut in real terms since 2011.Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, described the budget as the ‘biggest financial challenge this city has ever had to face in its entire history’ but said it had also created opportunities to create new revenue streams.

IN BRIEF

Liverpool – ‘shop hopping’ capital

Liverpool is England’s ‘shop hopping’ capital, as the city’s fashion pack

is the most likely to flit from store to store in search of outfit perfection.A study of shoppers across major English cities, carried out by St John’s Shopping Centre, found that both male and female Scousers are the most style and bargain conscious in the country.The average Scouser visits 3.5 stores in preparation for a night out; compared to those in Leicester where the average is 2.7, or Southampton shoppers who visit just 2.1.