City of Culture team urge businesses to get ready for 2017

Judy Newlove of Sugar ’n’ Spice in Paragon Arcade, pictured with one of her celebration cakes, is now working on ideas for a cake design to commemorate City of Culture.

CITY centre businesses were given insight from expert advisers and fellow traders as they met to sharpen their preparations for Hull’s year as UK City of Culture.

They also heard from directors of the City of Culture Company about the scale of the opportunities on offer, starting with a launch event which will bring more than 30,000 people to their doorsteps on January 1.

The business briefing was organised by HullBID in partnership with Visit Hull and East Yorkshire (VHEY) and delivered strong messages to an audience drawn from retail, restaurants, pubs and cultural companies.

Some businesses revealed they are well on with their preparations. Poorboy Boutique in Princes Quay Shopping Centre is working on some eye-catching window displays. Monsoon in Princes Quay are planning ahead with ordering stock and some of their staff have undertaken VHEY’s specialist training programmes.

Blue Water Café in Princes Dock Street is planning to extend opening hours into the evening and Judy Newlove, owner of Sugar ’n’ Spice in Paragon Arcade, is working on designs for a spectacular City of Culture cake.

Claire Suggitt, a HullBID board director and centre manager of Princes Quay, said: “We only have a few months to go until City of Culture is upon us and what really matters is that businesses start to get ready now.

“We are not just a 9 to 5 city – we are a 24-hour city and we have some amazing things that we can showcase.”

Martin Green, the chief executive of City of Culture, said: “We want to make sure businesses have enough information about the events as early as possible to help them prepare. We need to be open and our offer needs to be tip-top.

“If someone asks you what’s on tonight you need to know. Keep the information flowing. It all sounds very serious but it’s also going to be a great year. Use it for everything that it’s worth – it’s a great shop window.”

Mr Green also urged businesses to provide vital feedback by taking part in the City of Culture surveys which are being distributed directly and through business organisations including HullBID and the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce.

Ellie Garmston of VHEY encouraged businesses to develop their own awareness of the City of Culture programme, and Hull’s attractions generally, by signing up for the Customer Care and Knowing Hull training courses, both of which are free of charge and tailored to suit business hours.

Frank Smith of Santander supported the call from the City of Culture team to keep the cash flowing. With a shortage of cash machines in some parts of the city centre and an influx of visitors expected from the UK and overseas he emphasised the need to increase availability of card and contactless payments.

Phil Batty, director of marketing, communities and legacy for City of Culture, said: “In the coming weeks we will be visiting businesses and dropping off resources to help them promote the City of Culture programme to their customers. Find out what sort of events your customers like and make sure you know about them.”

To contact City of Culture with business feedback and ideas email theteam@hull2017.co.uk

For details of the VHEY training courses email Ellie Garmston at ellie@vhey.co.uk