It's lucky this project has moved at such a blistering pace as the time really has run away with us. Warwick were late to the party with the Portas Pilot idea, and it has only been on our radar since the Telegraph awards a few weeks ago.
Luckily the sheer talent, speed of work and amount of free time people have given has been phenomenal. As I type this we have only 8 days to get the proposal down on paper and we are all buying midnight oil to start burning!
We have started work on the video, which is the final product on which our pilot proposal is based. We have included students from Myton School who have been very supportive throughout - as have so many individuals and businesses in Warwick. The 3 minute video will have to not only show our ideas and proposal, but also pitch for the £100,000 maximum prize. A tough job when we have so many wonderful ideas.
So what are we moving forward with? Well after much deliberation and nowhere near enough time, we have our shortlist:
Market. This a big one. There have been many comments about our shabby, quiet and lacklustre market. We propose not only more events, but better communication of current events. We want to run the town more like a business, with everyone pulling in the same direction. The look and feel of the market place is key as well. We want more life, more greenery, more lighting at night, and more of a homely feel than a concrete space.
Social enterprise. Warwick has so many independent businesses but also quite a lot of empty shops, so we thought about how we can stop this getting worse. Several suggestions about using empty shops for schools or teaching trades to less fortunate people got us thinking. Could Warwick be a centre for excellence? A place that not only harbours great independents, but also one that produces them too? The social enterprise idea incorporates many of the fabulous ideas from this blog, received via email and discussed with people on the street. Using unused space like the market or the old Shire Hall to support new and inexperienced businesses could be a brilliant solution.
Communication. Website, mobile apps, signage, town correspondence, free WiFi, town trails QR codes. This is the digital section. Not all of these will make the cut. With this whole pilot process getting off the ground so quickly with social media and the great 'digital grapevine' in Warwick and surrounding areas, it was hard to ignore. We understand that not everyone uses the internet on their mobile, and we understand that some don't use it at all. We feel that that the mobile world is very important to modern life and it is growing at an incredible pace, so it cannot and should not be ignored. We will work our Mediaeval town into this 21st Century phenomenon. We must, or we will be left behind neighbouring towns.
'Is that it?' I hear you say. Well, in a very small nutshell, yes. The three sub-headings above represent over 60 brilliant ideas and incorporate many aspects of them. £100,000 is not a lot of money in this context, and we need to be innovative as well as economic with the cash. We will be playing to our strengths and addressing our weaknesses. Warwick has some fabulous assets but also some hideous failings. The above are far more complex than they seem, but give an outlying plan ahead of our agenda for the Portas Pilot proposal.
The facts
As with everything in life, and certainly in the media, there has been some scaremongering and there are some rumours flying around about the Warwick Portas pilot, so I thought I'd put the facts down on our blog - where all this began.
This is NOT A BID. Warwick is still raw from the Bid failure two years ago. This is not a Bid and is far from that, the similarities are there but the vehicle is different. The money from the Portas Pilot will not affect business rates, and match funding from the Councils (District, Town or Council) will not be passed onto retailers or businesses.
Mary Portas is not going to come and fix Warwick. Mary Portas is the vehicle, the ignition or spark if you like. We (Warwick town) are going to 'improve' Warwick. We are working together with the interests of our town in mind. We respect Mary Portas, and her knowledge of retail is unquestionable, but we know our town better than anyone.
By 'we' I refer to anyone and everyone who has given us their comments, suggestions and time. This is not about 6 or so people around a table; we have listened to and read your views and suggestions. This includes anyone who has made the effort to respond to the blog, the newspaper coverage, the radio airings, the TV footage, the word-of-mouth from shops and businesses, the phone calls to us and the continuing blog and Twitter feed. This is 'big society,' but on our time and our playing field.
Match funding will also NOT affect business rates or taxes. We are actively seeking support and backing from local businesses and organisations. So far we have secured around £20,000 which, if Warwick is successful, will be added to the £100,000 pot. Many thanks to the following confirmed companies for their support and proposed funding:
- Calor Gas Ltd Warwick
- Moore & Tibbets
- Hatton & Harding
- Barbers of Warwick
- Warwick County Council
- Warwick Town Council
- Wright Hassall Solicitors
- Picturesque
- Tilted Wig
Any ideas that we don't use now will still be on our agenda, because they came from you - the people of Warwick. Your ideas, support and energy are driving this campaign. So remember; it's NOT A BID! It's not a flash in the pan, and we really are trying to play to our strengths and address our weaknesses.
The support and community spirit in Warwick is mind-blowing. I'm so proud to be part of Warwick's new found energy, but without your continued support and passion I'd just be a very lonely person on an iPhone.
Thanks as always for reading. Please tweet, share, like or print off this post. Spread the word and keep the support growing.
Cheers.
Todd @UnderwoodWines & @WarwickTweetup
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