Ventnor Business Association

VBA Bid for a Portas Pilot project

ventnorba — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:57:41 +0000

Firstly, let me introduce myself – I am a newcomer to the VBA, an entrepreneur of many years experience and a former business studies lecturer. I have recently been voted in as the Vice Chair of the VBA and to put together the bid for funding from the Government for the Portas Pilot projects.

Last year Mary Portas prepared a review of the state of High Streets in Britain in the face of competition from out-of-town shopping centres and internet-based shopping and how they need to be revitalised or they may be lost altogether.

Her main vision is that high streets are not only places where people purchase goods and services, but that they provide a hub for the community, transport and employment. They provide for a sense of identity for both residents and visitors. They are good for social wellbeing and provide places for people to socialise and to exchange conversation. She concluded that unless something is done about the decline of the High Street, Britain will lose something that is fundamental to our society.

In response to this, the government is offering funding to communities to improve their High Streets. There is £100,000 available to towns to provide improvements and to ensure that High Streets remain vibrant. Ventnor has the advantage that it still retains a vibrant High Street, providing a good range of shops and services, and is a social hub for its users, but there is much that can be done to improve this.

The Portas Pilot bid provides Ventnor with a real opportunity to improve the attractiveness of the High Street, attract more visitors to the town throughout the year, to increase the profitability of fragile businesses, provide new employment and build upon its strenghts. Integral to this is the development of a Town Team to manage the projects and we have the support of Ventnor Town Council in creating this. We all think that Ventnor is a great place to be and success in this bid would make it even greater.

Anne Noon

VBA Vice Chair

Ventnor Business Association – New Name Required …

ventnorba — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:31:46 +0000

At Tuesday’s meeting of the VBA (more details to come) it was felt that the name of the Association was a bit formal and that we should look around for a new name and that we should look around for suggestions, so here is your chance to be creative. Click on the “replies” link below and give your suggestions.

Ventnor Botanic Gardens Open Meeting – 12th March 2012

ventnorba — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:28:57 +0000

Ventnor Botanic Garden is being transferred from the stewardship of the Isle of Wight Council into the management of a new style of social enterprise. Whilst this transition is taking place the IWC and the prospective board of the new company would like to hear from everybody who cares for this wonderful garden. Opinions have already been sought on the Garden’s future from several groups who directly use the Garden but this is your opportunity for your views to be discussed in an open, friendly forum, with the people who will be working with you in future.

There will be an open floor for discussion from 7pm on the evening of 12th March 2012 at Ventnor Cricket Club, please bring along your best ideas and your worst fears but most of all your goodwill.

Rosemary Stewart

Hon Secretary VBG Friends’ Society

Invitation to the Royal Hotel – Tuesday March 6th at 6.30pm

ventnorba — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:28:27 +0000

January and February is traditionally hibernation time for many businesses – time to have a break, refurbish, stock take and take stock. So now is a really good time for Ventnor Business Association to do the same!

To flourish and continue VBA needs an injection of new blood and fresh ideas – it needs to recruit new members to pick up the baton from, and to continue the good work of, those members who have worked hard on the Management Committee and who now wish to step down.

In Ventnor we are fortunate to have a unique and vibrant “trading area” and business community – made up of not only a town centre with a high proportion of independent, owner run shops, a wide range of eateries but also an exquisite seafront with ditto – a wealth of quality hotels, B&Bs and self-catering accommodation – as well as estate agents, and other professional services such as dentists, doctors, solicitors and builders, plus a variety of home-based service businesses, all contained within its perimeter and all bringing custom to the town.

So there is potential for a strong and eclectic membership of VBA!

To this end VBA has pleasure in inviting you to an evening to:

Share ideas for taking VBA forward
To renew and sign up new membership and
To elect a new Management Committee to steer the VBA through the coming year.

To take place at:

The Royal Hotel (Albert Room) on Tuesday 6March at 6.30pm

~Light refreshments will be served~

We hope you are able to attend.

Linda Chester (Retiring Acting Chair)

Please RSVP to ventnorba@hotmail.co.uk or Linda at BIZZY LIZZY’S in Pier Street

VBA NETWORKING EVENING Tuesday 29th March 2011

ventnorba — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 11:19:58 +0000

Ventnor Business Association Networking Evening

The Ventnor Business Association is holding a networking evening to which ALL businesses in and around the town are invited to attend. Representatives from Natwest Island Games will be there to promote the two events taking place in Ventnor on Sunday, 26th June and there will also be presentations by the organisers of V-Bay Festival and the new Isle of Art Festival, and Ventnor Business Association.

The event is taking place at the Royal Hotel, by kind invitation of William Bailey, on Tuesday, 29th March 2011, 7.00pm for 7.30pm start.

This will be a great opportunity for ALL businesses to get together (whether they be a shop, restaurant/cafe, professional service, accomodation provider or indeed working from home) and to find out just what services we have in the town, how we can support one another to keep a thriving business face in the town and how we can, together, help to promote this wonderful town of Ventnor. Invitations have gone out to as many businesses that we can think of, but if you are a business who we have overlooked please make your self known to us, either by contacting me personally at Bizzy Lizzy’s Tel 856000, or email ventnorba@hotmail.co.uk

We look forward to meeting you.

Linda Chester Acting Chair Ventnor Business Association

Emergency Members Meeting called

ventnorba — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 10:44:36 +0000

The VBA will be holding an emergency meeting at the Winter Gardens Tuesday 2nd November 6.30 for 7pm

Due to their own business commitments Bob has stepped down as VBA Chairman and Debbie will be standing down as treasurer.

For the VBA to continue as an association we are, therefore, looking for members to come forward to take up the following positions, Chairman, Vice Chairman and Treasurer. Although we understand Bobs reasons for retiring we do hope other members will be willing to take on a new challenge to keep the VBA alive.

The executive members would like to thank Bob for his honesty and the work he has put in on behalf of the Ventnor Business Association and we wish him the best for the future.

V-BAY ‘BIG SPEAKEASY Evening’

ventnorba — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 19:37:46 +0000

Saturday 23rd October at the Winter Gardens Ventnor

CASINO, CABARET, JAZZ & MAGIC

Get Dresses for this 1920/30′s ‘Prohibition’ era evening TICKETS £12

Get a group of friends together and share a table, enjoy the cocktails and waitress service true to the speakeasy/prohibition era.

Help support the V-Bay Festival, the VBA and have a great night out.

Tickets available from the bar at the Winter Gardens, Ale and Oyster resturant and Wave clothing shop

V-Bay Festival 21-24 October

ventnorba — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 19:33:09 +0000

Why V-Bay?

The “V” is for Ventnor town and “Bay” is for our unique seafront!

Please visit www.ventnorbay.co.uk

V-Bay Festival Advertising Opportunity with the Isle of Wight Gazette

ventnorba — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 19:57:35 +0000

The Isle of Wight Gazette has prepared a special advertising offer for VBA members for the V-Bay Festival.

Please click on this link to see the two page spread and the rates.

VBaySpread

The IW Gazette has said that members don’t have to take these exact ads – If they just let the Gazette know what sizes they would like, they will work around you – If they get enough they will spill over onto another page or two!

The cut off for the feature is next Tuesday afternoon 5 October, although earlier would be better, and deadline for artwork is Wednesday morning 6 October. The Gazette are happy to design your ads free of charge – they just need the information you want, and your logo if you have one.

The feature is coming out next Friday 8 October. It will also be available to read online at www.iwgazette.co.uk from Monday October 11 onwards.

Please send an email with your order to Jo Macaulay at jo@iwgazette.co.uk and if you don’t have email, just phone Jo on 898346 or 07973365556.

V-Bay Festival Advertising Opportunity with the County Press

ventnorba — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:52:22 +0000

Here below are the links to the rates and copy feature on the V Bay festival, that will appear in the 15th October issue of the County Press. Any VBA member interested in advertising needs to register an interest by 30th September. You can phone direct to County Press on 535003 and ask for Carol Colson.

425 rates 2010 entertainment

Ventnor V Bay