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The new exhibition From the Cornish Coast to the Malvern Hills arrives at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum
Saturday 4 March ā Saturday 1 July 2023 | Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum
Monday to Saturday 10.30am ā 4.30pm
FREE entry
The new exhibition, From the Cornish Coast to the Malvern Hills, arrives Saturday 4th March until 1st July 2023, celebrating Worcestershireās influence on British Impressionism Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum and the links between Worcestershire and the Newlyn School of artists who were pivotal in this magical moment of British art in the nineteenth and twentieth century. Including paintings by Stanhope Forbes, Dame Laura Knight and Elizabeth Forbes. Camille and Lucian Pissarro represent the influence of French Impressionists. As well as, two works by Dame Laura Knight recently acquired for the Worcester City Collection. The artworks were purchased with support from Art Fund, the Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, Worcestershire Heritage, Art & Museums Charity and kind donations from Art Gallery & Museum Members. Dame Laura Knight lived and painted in Malvern and the town and hills become very dear to her, influencing her work.
For more information visit
www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk
Worcester City Runs Breakfast Club with the legendary Paula Radcliffe MBE
Join us at the @worcesterrun Breakfast Club: a networking event with a twist that give's you all the information you need to get involved with the Worcester City Run.Ā
BREAKFAST
CLUB
FRIDAY 24TH FEBRUARY 2023
8AM - 10AM
Jog, walk or just enjoy a coffee whilst networking atĀ Wildwood.
Take it at your own pace.
Fancy a jog or walk? You will be joined by athletics legendās Steve Cram CBE and Paula Radcliffe MBE as you make your way along the river path to the marina before circling back for breakfast and a hot drink.
Chat to Steve, Paula and the team about how you can get involved in our exciting plans for 2023.
Register your BID Business by contacting us at info@worcesterbid.com
Register your BID Business by contacting us at info@worcesterbid.com
Could you be our new Safer Streets Officer?
We are hiring!
Worcester Business Improvement District are hiring a Safer Streets Officer to work within the Worcester city centre.
Could you be a good fit? The role would see you working closely with our city partners including West Mercia Police, Worcester City Council, Worcester Cares, and businesses to deter crime and anti-social behaviour with a primary focus on safer streets. You would be a visual and consistent presence in the city, sending a clear message that we have zero tolerance for crime of any sort in the city centre.
If this sounds like you, please read the full job description here:
Ā PRESS HERE FOR THE FULL JOB DESCRIPTION
To apply, please email a CV and cover letter to BID CEO, Sam McCarthy: sam.mccarthy@worcesterbid.com
Ā PRESS HERE FOR THE FULL JOB DESCRIPTION
Worcesterās Close the Door campaign helps businesses stay Open4Business
Worcester is staying Open4Business by closing its doors: a new Close the Door campaign is in full force. The joint initiative from Worcester BID, supported by Worcester City Council, is set to save businesses money and reduce the cityās contribution to CO2 emissions, simply by shops closing their doors whilst trading during winter periods.
At a time when energy bills are at an all-time high, Worcester BID is helping businesses with simple energy-saving techniques that are being promoted to customers and shoppers through simple initiatives such as informative window and door stickers. These stickers are being distributed to businesses across the city centre and are designed to prompt customers to close doors behind them.
Sam McCarthy, CEO of Worcester Business Improvement District (BID) said, āBusinesses within the city are open for business and to support with the increasing energy bills, they will be keeping their doors closed this winter period. We encourage shoppers not to be put off by the closed doors and to understand that this supports the businesses to remain trading by reducing additional costs.ā
Whilst this is a simple technique to keeping the heat in and reducing energy usage, research from Cambridge University found that shops that keep doors open consume twice as much electricity as businesses which do not. Businesses that close their doors save up to 10 tonnes of CO2 and can cut their annual energy bills by up to half. This is the equivalent of driving 25,000 miles ā the distance from Worcester to our twin city of Le Vesinet, France, and back, nearly 30 times!
This simple Close the Door initiative will help businesses save money on their energy bills and reduce the cityās consumption of energy, leading to lower CO2 emissions.
Worcester City Councilās Councillor Louis Stephen suggested the scheme and said, āThe cost-of-living crisis, caused by high energy bills, is affecting local businesses just as much as Worcester residents. The open for business initiative is a great way for customers to support local shops by understanding why business doors are closed during the cold winter months.ā
Help support your high street this winter by closing the doors of businesses displaying the sticker.
If you would like a window sticker for your business. Please contact Worcester BID via info@worcesterbid.com
NEW - City Council Grants for Business Improvements
Worcester City Council has just introduced a new grant for retail properties. The grants are funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and are part of Worcester City Councilās allocation of Ā£2.96m.
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If you have a retail unit, you could be given financial support towards making improvements to internal appearance, frontages, and accessibility of empty and occupied retail units across Worcester.Ā Ā
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Businesses/organisations can apply for a maximum ofĀ Ā£12,000Ā towards costs of occupying a previously empty retail unit orĀ Ā£6,000Ā for improvements to internal appearance, frontages, and/or the accessibility of occupied units. Eligible expenditure can include building works, premises refurbishment, fixtures and fittings, signage, installation of ramps and other associated costs to either bring the empty unit back into use or improve the internal appearance, frontage, or accessibility of occupied units.Ā
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Businesses/organisations must be able to make a ācashā match funding contribution of at least 50% towards the cost of the proposed project/investment.
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Applications are encouraged to be submitted as soon as possible.Ā
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Please note that you may be contacted regarding your application and changes.
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Please contact the Economic Development team on either 01905 722106 or emailĀ economy@worcester.gov.ukĀ for more information.
Student Discounts Galore!
Are you a student? Make the most of your student card in the city centre at the following places
FOOD
M&S – 25% off food on the go (UNIDAYS)
Zizzi (High Street) – 20% off Monday-Thursday (UNIDAYS)
Yo Sushi –Ā 20% off when you dine in (UNIDAYS) – Limited Time Only Check UNIDAYS Website for up to date details
Pizza Express – 30% Off Food Sunday ā Thursday (UNIDAYS)
Bills – 20% Off total bill Sunday to Thursday (UNIDAYS)
Greggs – Free Sausage Roll, Vegan Sausage Roll or Sweet Treat – When you buy any cold Sandwich Deal! (Show student card in store)
Hotel Chocolate – Redeem a 10% student discount with Student Beans. Hotel Chocolat Discount Codes | Voucher Codes
BEAUTY
Boots – Boots offer students a 10% discount. The discount is valid online and in-store, with a Boots Advantage Card.Ā Present your valid student ID in-store to have your student discount linked to your Advantage Card.
House Of Fraser –Ā 10% off year round with Student Discount Apps. See more here: Student Discounts | Exclusive Student Offers | House of Fraser
Superdrug – Superdrug offer studentsĀ a 10% discount. The discount is available in-store only, and youāll need to present your student ID alongside a Superdrug Health & Beautycard.
*Superdrugās Online Doctor is also providing a 10% discount for students on all products and services with the code: STUDENT10
Perfume Shop – 15% Off (UNIDAYS) Student Discount | The Perfume Shop
The Body Shop – The Body Shop offers a 15% student discount on all products, so you can treat yourself to your self-care favourites without breaking the bank. (UNIDAYS)
FASHION
Accessorize – (High Street): Get 10% off full price items. (UNIDAYS)
House Of Fraser –Ā 10% off year round with Student Discount Apps. See more here: Student Discounts | Exclusive Student Offers | House of Fraser / (Student discount on Beauty Products | The Body ShopĀ®)
Moss -10% Student Discount at Moss –Ā Student Discount (moss.co.uk)
JingoĀ (Pump Street): 10% off full price all year round.
Pandora – 50% off any order over Ā£99 with Student Beans (account required).
HAIR
Avant Garde Hair & Beauty – 50% off your first visit, 25% off your second visit and 15% off every visit after (Get the discount here Student Discount Hereford & Worcester Hair & Beauty Salons (agsalons.com))
Inspiration Hair – Ā£10 off your first visit (Hair Salon New Client Discount Voucher – Worcester (inspirationhair.co.uk))
OTHER
Paperchase – Paperchase offer students a 10%Ā discount.
Smiggle – Get the 10% off Smiggle student discount code with your first purchase & Newsletter Sign Up.
Cornish Bakehouse – 10% off (Check offer before purchase as varies).
Waterstones – 10% (Show your card at the till).
The Kiln (Copenhagen Street) – Enjoy a student/graduate discount (50% discount for 6 months).
Worcester Tourist Information CentreĀ (High Street): Make the most of a 10% offer on all gifts.
Museum Of Royal Worcester – Student entry reduced rate = Ā£6.50
Take a look atĀ NUSĀ /Ā TOTUMĀ andĀ UNiDAYS,Ā alongside other ways to look out for student discounts likeĀ Student BeansĀ andĀ StudentDiscount.co.uk.
Peter Cooks Bread joins the Hopmarket
There is a new venue just about to officially launch in the Hopmarket and they want to celebrate their opening with you!
So what is Peter Cooks Bread?
"Our key principle is āSharing the Joys of Real Breadā and this means bread with no improvers, using organic flours, wholegrains, and mostly wild yeast in our breads. Nearly all our breads have themselves won great taste awards or worlds baking awards with the depth of flavour resulting from our 3 day fermentation process. Ā Ā Our pastry products are also made with the same focus on flavour and texture making our pastries stand out from the crowd. Once you have tried one of our pastries it is hard to accept anything less.
At this time of year we also have our Christmas specials including our own Stollen with fruit soaked in Chase Marmalade vodka, which comes in either bite size or loaf. Our own mince pies using our shortcrust pastry, with our Peter Cooks Bread mincemeat, with either the classic pastry top or our own delicious frangipane."
The HopmarketĀ Peter Cooks BreadĀ launch party and free tasting event will take place this Saturday (10th December) between 10am and 12 noon. Pop down to see celebrity chef and presenterĀ Marcus Bean Chef,Ā opening the sparkling new shop at 3 The Hop Market, Worcester, WR1 1DG.
Definitely not one to be missed.
Find event details on their Facebook page by pressing here!
Worcester secures Ā£2.96m Government investment
Worcester City Council has secured Ā£2.96 million to invest in the city from the Governmentās UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The money will be used for a wide range of initiatives in the city, including boosting Worcesterās profile as a visitor destination; support for community schemes, the arts and business; and energy efficiency.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is the successor to the European Structural Fund, and this funding allocation builds on the City Councilās previous success in securing more than Ā£40 million from national schemes including the Future High Streets Fund and the Towns Fund.
Councillor Chris Mitchell, Joint Leader of Worcester City Council, said: āThis is good news for the city, and demonstrates continued support from the Government for the improvements and developments that we are making in Worcester.
āCommunity groups, businesses and creative organisations will benefit from the initiatives that this Ā£2.96 million will support, demonstrating the Governmentās commitment to supporting communities in terms of levelling-up.ā
Part of the UKSPF investment will be used to support Worcesterās growing reputation as a visitor destination. There will be promotions and campaigns to attract more visitors, additional signing to help them explore the city, and improved access to the Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum.
Support for communities will include an expansion of the City Councilās community grants programme, and the establishment of a heritage forum and a separate arts and culture forum, both of which would also be able to award grants.
Additionally, the City Council will commission a feasibility study into creating a new facility for applied and creative arts in Worcester.
To support the cityās businesses, Ā£150,000 will be used to back research and innovation, and part of the UKSPF money will be used to pay for energy-efficiency assessments of business premises and grants for energy improvements.
This latest award of Government funding is the latest in a long line of public investments in the city.
Improvements to the northern part of the city centre, including the development of a new arts centre in Angel Place, are being made thanks to Ā£17.9 million from the Future High Streets Fund.
An allocation of Ā£19.6 million from the Towns Fund is supporting a range of projects, including the new Kepax Bridge and other boosts to walking and cycling; the redevelopment of Isaac Maddox House in the cityās Shrub Hill quarter; and a new construction skills training centre in Dines Green.
The redevelopment of the cityās Victorian railway arches as The Arches ā Worcester project, which has created new creative business spaces and will soon bring a new walking and cycling route from Foregate Street station to The Hive and the riverside, has been possible thanks to a successful Ā£3.7 million bid to the Cultural Development Fund.
Worcester is ready to light up for Christmas
Christmas is coming to Worcester ā with the festive lights being switch on in a fun-packed family event on Saturday 26 November.
This year there will be more streets lit up in the city than ever before, including ā for the first time ā seasonal illuminations on New Road to create a closer link between the festive offers in both the city centre and St Johnās.
This yearās Christmas lights are a joint effort between Worcester City Council and Worcester BID ā and with low energy LED bulbs being used, this festive season will also be better for the planet.
Free and fun for all the family, the big switch-on event begins at 4pm on Saturday 26 November in Cathedral Square, with Radio Wyvern hosting live music performances from local band Split Second, school choirs, and characters from the Swan Theatreās pantomime cast of Cinderella. The Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Adrian Gregson, will help to switch on the lights.
If Worcester residents have all been good boys and girls this year, Father Christmas might also make a special appearance.
This yearās colourful festive lights will, for the first time, extend into New Road, and Worcester BID will be supporting lights in Reindeer Court, Lower Broad Street, New Street, Friar Street, The Hopmarket and The Shambles. The latter location will have overhead festive lights for the first time, while the New Street and Friar Street lights will feature purple colours to reflect Worcester recently securing the purple flag in recognition of it being a safe night-time destination.
There will also be a trail of 12 ālight boxesā to be explored around the city centre, each hiding an image of one of the 12 days of Christmas. Visitors will be able to use the torch on their mobile phone to reveal the image inside each box.
Councillor Robyn Norfolk, Vice Chair of Worcester City Councilās Place and Economic Development Committee, said: āAt a time when many cities are scaling back their Christmas plans, Iām very pleased to announce that Worcesterās festive lights will be better than ever. And, for the first time, the illuminations will take in New Road, creating a colourful seasonal link between our two busiest shopping areas in the city centre and St Johnās.
āDespite the pressures that people are under at the moment, we hope the Christmas lights will encourage shoppers and visitors into our city and help our local businesses to enjoy a successful festive season.
āThe family-friendly switch-on event on 26 November in Cathedral Square will be packed full of great free entertainment and will kick-off a fantastic programme of seasonal fun ā with more to be announced very soon!ā
All of Worcesterās Christmas illuminations this year will be low-energy LED lights ā with over 80,000 individual LEDs in use around the city. These are kinder to the environment and are also around 85% cheaper to run.
Sam McCarthy, CEO of Worcester Business Improvement District (BID), said: āWorcester BIDās focus this year for the Christmas lights has been around the sustainability and running costs of the scheme. We have focused on ensuring that whist the lights capture the spirit of the season and help visitors and shoppers to enjoy the city centre, everything ā including the LED bulbs, use of phone torches that are already charged, and quantities of lighting ā has been chosen to be more sustainable this year than ever before, across many busy and popular city zones.ā
This yearās extensive programme will bring Christmas lights to the main shopping streets in the city centre and St Johnās, and include the traditional brightly-lit tree on the New Road roundabout.