[dropcap type=”circle”]B[/dropcap]usinesses of Heswall and surrounding areas! What sort of events can you conjure up to attract people to our patch in particular and the peninsula in general? And do you fancy £1000 to help make them happen?
There is a catch – you have to join the Wirral Visitor Economy Network, which costs £275 plus VAT. However, a first year introductory rate has also been introduced of just £175 plus VAT for the first year for new members. One of the benefits of membership is the chance to apply for the £1000 in funding of events that will attract new visitors to Wirral. £1000? Grand!
Events already awarded grant funding include the Port Sunlight River Park Birthday event on 14th August, the Wirral Arts Festival from 1st – 15th October, and the Wirral Wader Festival on 1st and 2nd October.
Lorna Tyson MBE, Chair of the WVEN, said: ‘This grant will support both new and existing events and the organisers will work with our members in order to attract even more day and short break visitors. It will also help them to grow and become self-sustaining in the future.’
Phil Davies, Leader of Wirral Council, added: ‘We are committed to increasing the value of Wirral’s tourism visitor economy to £450 million by 2020. As well as major, international events like the proposed visit of the Giants in 2018, and building world-renowned venues like the international golf resort, this means working with small and medium-sized businesses to ensure we have a coherent, ambitious tourism strategy that secures benefits for them.’
The WVEN has over 100 businesses already signed up, including attractions, restaurants, hotels, golf clubs, bars and cafes as well as heritage and environmental groups.
Wirral’s tourism visitor economy is worth over £385.5m, employs over 5,000 people and attracts 8.2 million day and short break visitors every year.
To find out more about becoming a WVEN member and how to apply for a grant please call Amanda Williams on 0151 691 8091.
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