The Islands’ Partnership has been following the debate in parliament about calls for tourism VAT to be cut to 5%. The Treasury Department rejected the motion a couple of weeks ago, despite cross party support. Members can read an account of the debate and reactions to it in the Members Area > News & Information.

The University of the West of England has announced the launch of a £4 million grant scheme aimed at supporting businesses in the South West.

The Innovation 4 Growth programme is designed to help regional companies - both small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and larger organisations - to develop products, technologies, processes and services.

Led by the University using Regional Growth Funding, it will provide up to 35% of research and development project costs, with a grants of between £25,000 to £150,000.

Applications for the first round of funding must be received by 5pm on Monday, 10th March 2014.

The programme website, with full details and a registration link, can be found at: www.innovation4growth.co.uk
If any IP member would like assistance with respect to accessing funds, please contact us. (Tel 01720 424036 or email [email protected])

The Islands’ Partnership (IP) is offering members access to a free Email Marketing Workshop to be held Tuesday 18th February (10am - 11.30am) at the Lifelong Learning Centre, Carn Gwaval, St Mary’s.

• Learn how Email Marketing is still relevant and delivers measurable results in an increasingly complex digital world
• Appreciate what is current good practice in terms of content and send frequency
• Get to grips with interpreting and using the resultant analytics
• Review examples of campaigns and consider content that might be relevant to different businesses
• Understand how segmentation works and how it benefits business

Attendees will also get an opportunity to look at specific software and see how it works. The session will end with a Q&A session. The session will be led by Kevin Gray Roberts from MailRocket. Any interested in attending should email [email protected] or call 01720 424036.

Entries are now being accepted for the Cornwall Business Awards 2014 and the Islands’ Tourism & Business Partnership is encouraging Scilly businesses to get involved.

The Awards programme is organised and presented by Cornwall Development Company, in partnership with Business Cornwall magazine and Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, of with the Islands’ Partnership is an affiliate member. The aim is to celebrate the best of Cornwall’s and the Isles of Scilly’s business community, raising the region’s profile, and inspiring local companies to strive for ever higher standards.

Any business based in Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly can enter one or more of 14 award categories, which include Best New Business, Best Family Business, Most Creative use of Design and Best Customer Service. A new award category this year is Best Digital Marketing.

“The IP was instrumental in encouraging members to take part in the Cornwall Tourism Awards last autumn, and assisting the nine businesses who came forward to write their extensive bids,” notes Amanda Pender, Tourism Coordinator Islands’ Partnership. “Four went on to gain major recognition in their categories, not only boosting their own business brand and reputation, but also further helping to place Scilly on the tourism map. Now it’s the turn of the Cornwall Business Awards, and we would like to encourage all our member businesses – tourism related or otherwise - to consider an application. If any wish to put themselves forward, they should let us know and we will be glad to encourage and support them with their entries.”

The closing date for online entries is midnight on 16th March. A full list of the award categories, criteria and online entry forms are available on www.cornwallbusinessawards.co.uk. The winners will be announced on Thursday May 15th at a gala dinner at St Mellion International Resort.

Diving enthusiast Sam Kirby from Helston in Cornwall has won a competition to get married on the Isles of Scilly after entering a competition organised by the Islands’ Partnership in collaboration with the Isles of Scilly Register Office and Archant Bride. The draw took place at the Register Office on St Mary’s with the winner chosen by Jemma Gilmour, who herself will marry Rick Pender in the Porthcressa Beach Room this coming September. Alison Gardner, the Isles of Scilly Superintendent Registrar, facilitated the proceedings. The prize comprises a wedding ceremony or civil partnership to be held in the Porthcressa Beachside Ceremony Room on St Mary’s worth £130, a 3-night honeymoon stay at Tregarthen’s Hotel with dinner bed and breakfast for two people, flowers to the value of £50 courtesy of Scilly Flowers at Churchtown Farm on St Martin’s, and 25% off the cost of wedding photos courtesy of Chris Hall Photography. Sam and her husband to be, Keith Amps, plan to tie the knot here on Scilly later this year.

Today, the Islands’ Partnership has announced the full programme for Walk Scilly 2014. Tickets are now on sale for this year’s line-up which has exciting new walks, lots of added extras as well as the old firm favourites.

The week-long festival, from 12^th – 18^th April, includes 22 themed and guided walks (and a coastal run) across St Mary’s, Tresco, St Martin’s, St Agnes, Bryher and Samson, including the opportunity to learn more about the Isles of Scilly Seabird Recovery Project on both St Mary’s and St Agnes. Additionally, this year, Walk Scilly has added a number of other attractions to the schedule. Walkers will be able to try their hand at horse-riding thanks to the St Mary’s Riding Centre, snorkelling with seals with the award-winning St Martin’s Dive School, and cycling with St Mary’s Bike Hire, all at specially discounted Walk Scilly rates. An evening programme is also in place with a welcome party, various supper boats to the off-islands, an archaeology lecture and a barn dance on the final evening courtesy of the Scilly Folk Festival!

Full details about the Walk Scilly 2014 Programme including the booking forms can be found here. Tickets can be booked through the IP office.

Sally Shalam, the UK’s leading travel journalist (Conde Nast Traveller and The Guardian) delivered an inspired speech at last week’s South West Tourism Awards… about inclusiveness being the industry’s next big challenge. It’s a great read with a few home truths about marketing to an older generation who in their younger days sported Afghan coats or mini skirts, attended Rolling Stones concerts and put ruck-sacks on their backs to go travelling…

You will find a link to the speech in the Members’ Area - under News & Information.