August 2017 Meeting Shorts

Meeting Round Up

Vice-chairman Simon Shaw welcomed over 70 local businesses and organisations to the August meeting of Newark Business Club. They were probably partly tempted by the amazing ice cream on offer from Castle Ice Cream, which Buttercross Estates kindly bought for everyone!

A Winning Meal at Everest Inn

On the subject of food, the sponsor of August’s meeting was the Everest Inn. Based on Castle Gate in Newark and with other restaurants in Grantham, Stamford and Lincoln, Everest serves up Nepalese and Indian cuisine. It can also provide takeaways, wedding, function and outdoor catering.

It prides itself on its quality food, exceptional service and outstanding value in modern, comfortable and relaxed surroundings, and has gone on to win, amongst others, a Newark Business Award for Excellence in Business (2016), a Good Food Award (2017) and received a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor. It is also a 2017 British Curry Award Finalist.

Everest Inn kindly offered a meal for two to the winner of the business card draw, which went to Alexander Jepson of Southwell Racecourse.

Young, and Not So Young, Professionals!

Francesca Tricarico of Duncan & Toplis presented the Newark Young Professionals group to the meeting. Established in 2016, the group focuses on networking but in a more informal, social setting. The group is for young professionals (and those who are young at heart!) that want to make business connections but have fun along the way.

The next meeting is on Thursday 31 August  6.30pm to 8.30pm at The Ram on Castle Gate in Newark. Join 40 other professionals and a special guest speaker, Peter Watson of Chatty Imp, for gourmet food, a glass of Pimms and a fun quiz. Cost is £10 per person.

To book your place e:mail  Francesca on francesca.tricarico@duntop.co.uk. More details can be found at @NewarkYoungProf on Twitter or @NewarkYoungProfessionals on Facebook.

Action Group Highlights

As chairman of the Business Club Action Group, James Fountain of Bazzoo gave the meeting an update on:

  • East Midlands Rail Franchise Consultation

The East Midlands has one of the lowest levels, nationally, of investment in its rail infrastructure. It’s vital for local business that Newark gets more frequent rail services and faster journey times and it’s imperative that the group of operators that make up the East Midlands Rail Franchise are made aware of Newark’s strategic importance in any decisions made.

The consultation document has been read and digested and Bob Poynter is preparing a response to it on behalf of the Newark business community.

  • Sponsor a Roundabout

Any business interested in sponsoring a roundabout in Newark, and the excellent exposure this brings, can contact Lisa Williams by emailing lisawilliams@communitypartners.co.uk. The weekly cost for sponsorship is £70 + VAT upwards.

  • Visitor Accommodation Survey

It is estimated that 65,000 people are employed within the tourist accommodation sector across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Within Newark, a survey is to be undertaken to establish the potential for developing the self-catering accommodation offer. Watch this space!

Anyone interested in attending the next Action Group is welcome. It’s on 21st August at 6pm at the offices of William Saunders on Cafferata Way, just off Beacon Hill.

Marketing NG – The Place to Be.

The Business Club welcomed Annette Thornley, Partnerships Manager at Marketing NG, a new organisation established to promote the NG postcode area as a place for investing and visiting.

Marketing NG in part replaces the role of Experience Nottinghamshire and is responsible for promoting Nottinghamshire to an international audience. It has three strands:

  • Invest in Nottingham, which promotes the area to potential investors;
  • Visit Nottinghamshire, which welcomes visitors to explore and enjoy what the area has to offer; and
  • Nottingham Partners, a networking group of 580 members with an interest in shouting about the potential of our amazing county.

Annette also gave an update about the Newark stage of the Tour of Britain, happening on 6th September. Marketing NG, is encouraging businesses across the county to take advantage of the immense opportunity presented by the OVO Energy Tour of Britain, when it rolls into Nottinghamshire on 6 September 2017. 

Experts are predicting an economic boost of around £500,000 for the county, based on the impact seen in other locations when hosting the start or finish elements of the race in previous years.

Barcode Warehouse is the main sponsor of the Newark stage of the race but there are plenty of other sponsorship opportunities for interested businesses and organisations. Sponsors will be able to use the event logo on their own materials and take advantage of the PR and social media opportunities.

For those that would like to experience VIP hospitality, there will be an area at the end of the race and spaces are still available.

Further information on both sponsorship and VIP hospitality packages can be obtained by contacting Annette on 0115 962 8320 or Julie Reader-Sullivan at Newark & Sherwood District Council on 01623 650000.