The Islands’ Partnership has teamed up with the Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB Partnership), Isles of Scilly Travel and Samson Hill Cottage on Bryher to launch a fantastic new photography competition for the summer of 2014. It is open to anyone keen to capture the essence of the Isles of Scilly on camera, and who is happy to have their talent showcased in our marketing materials. The outright winner selected after an online vote will win a two-night break for two on a Bed & Breakfast basis at Samson Hill Cottage on Bryher, and two return tickets on the Scillonian III passenger ferry. Terms & Conditions apply, and of course, both the IP and the AONB Partnership hope to get some amazing new imagery to add to our photo libraries which will help further promote the Isles of Scilly. Details:  http://www.islandspartnership.co.uk/marketing/isles-scilly-photography-competition-2014/

Our new visitislesofscilly.com website has won the British Destinations Website Homepage award 2014. English Riviera’s website was 2nd, and Visit Cornwall 3rd. James Berresford, Chief Executive of VisitEngland received the award on our behalf.

Amongst the judging criteria were accessibility, booking facilities and ability to request a brochure. Mobile and tablet layout were also taken into consideration. Our website received 171 points out of a possible 180.

According to the judges’ comments, they were highly impressed with the site’s bold use of photography, along with the comprehensive navigation structure. They said it was nice to see the use of more photography within the sub navigation menus to give the user even more of a feel of the destination. The judges also praised how easy it was to order a brochure: a simple, clear link in the header of the site was an excellent addition and something that so many other sites miss. Further to this, an electronic version of the guide was supplied in a ‘page-turning’ booking format along with a form to order a physical copy. The site performed excellently on a range of devices including iPads and iPhones, ensuring a pleasant experience for the user regardless of the device they’re using. An outstanding winner.”

September is shaping up to be one of the best times to visit Scilly with lots of opportunities for our visitors to join in with one of these fabulous events:
Swim Scilly
Comedian Russell Kane 
Tresco & Bryher Food Festival
Walk Scilly Weekend 

To promote Super September we’re working with Visit Cornwall to send out a featured Isles of Scilly mailer to its database of over 160,000 contacts. The mailer will go out the 1^st of August with a deadline of submitting information of the 11^th July.
The Islands’ Partnership has 4 slots available on this mailer that can be purchased by accommodation providers to promote their business.  Each advertising slot will cost £100 plus VAT.
If you would like to purchase space for your business please contact the IP team on enquiries@islandspartnership.co.uk .  Bookings will be taken on a first come first served basis.

The Islands’ Partnership has arranged for comedian and TV presenter Russell Kane to perform at the Five Islands School on Saturday 6th September as part of his hugely successful live show, Smallness. Russell is well known to comedy fans through his regular appearance on TV panel and comedy shows. He also won the top award at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2010.

Russell says: “The Isles of Scilly are tailor-made for my Smallness show which celebrates everything small. It all started with a tweet; I was followed by Visit Isles of Scilly on Twitter, tweeted that I’d always wanted to go there, and was invited to perform. It seemed like the perfect opportunity.”  He will be supported on Scilly by popular Cornish comedian, the Kernow King, who is looking forward to sharing the stage with the notoriously energetic comic.

Chris Gregory, Chairman of the Islands’ Partnership, says: “We’re thrilled to be hosting Russell on the Isles of Scilly – at our first major comedy event. We’re sure it will be popular with Scillonians and visitors alike. The comedy show is part of our Super September of events on Scilly, which also includes the annual Tresco and Bryher Food Festival and new September Walk Scilly Weekend.”

Russell Kane will be performing in the fantastic new performance theatre at the Five Islands School on St. Mary’s. Bar and food will be available.

Tickets are £17.50. To book your tickets, email enquiries@islandspartnership.co.uk or phone the Islands’ Partnership team on 01720 424036. Suitable for 16yrs and over.

Yesterday at 4pm, Wedding Competition winner Samy Kirby married Keith Amps on a glorious afternoon on Scilly. They tied the knot in the Beachside Room at the Register Office right on Porthcressa Beach in front of 30 family and friends who all made the trip across to the islands for the celebrations. The competition was organised by the Islands’ Partnership last Autumn together with Archant Bride Events. We are very grateful to Tregarthen’s Hotel, Scilly Flowers, Chris Hall Photography, and the Council of the Isles of Scilly who all donating towards the prize. Becky Lock also made an amazing wedding cake for the bride and groom.

The Islands’ Partnership is pleased to announce the winner of the “Win a Holiday to the Isles of Scilly” Competition which took place at the Visit Isles of Scilly stand (which we shared with Exeter Airport, Isles of Scilly Travel and Tresco Island) at the Devon County Show last month. Her name is Diane Emms and she comes from Sidmouth in Devon.  She has won self catering holiday at Seaways Farm, kindly donated by Juliet May. Diane is 72 and last visited Scilly in 1976. She will be bringing long term partner Tom Gordon with her when she visits next year. Diane loves photography, flower arranging, walking and gardening. Sounds like she’ll have a great time!

Members of the Islands’ Partnership are being invited to attend, or send business representatives to attend, one of two Customer Care Training Workshops taking place on the Isles of Scilly on Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th June.

Each of the one-day  Customer Care training courses is being delivered by Cornwall College Business (Performance through People) experts at the Life Long Learning Centre, St Mary’s. Each full-day session (9.30am-4.30pm) is identical, and fully accredited to work towards a formal customer care qualification.

The workshop will be interactive and intense, first of all looking at the importance of delivering good service and the impact of poor service. Participants will be asked to analyse and scrutinise their own businesses as well as the islands as a whole – using real examples from Trip Advisor amongst other tools – with a view to discussing opportunities on how visitors’ experiences of the islands could be improved. There will also be sessions on “Knowing your customers”, “Creating good first impressions”, “Exploring the whole customer journey” and “Building rapport to enhance the customer experience”.

“This is a bespoke training course, designed specifically for businesses that operate on Scilly,” says Amanda Pender, Tourism Coordinator at the Islands’ Partnership. “Earlier in the year, we held an entire day’s session with Cornwall College’s Business team and a number of Scilly’s larger organisations looking at every facet and touch point of the visitor experience on Scilly – and this course has been put together in direct response to the comments and suggestions put forward.”

There are 20 spaces available each day, and places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Anyone interested in taking part should email the Islands’ Partnership on enquiries@islandspartnership.co.uk or telephone 01720 424036.  Sessions will be free to eligible businesses – which we believe accounts for the vast majority on Scilly, if not all.  (It is quite complicated – based upon size of business and any grants already received, but we will clarify any costs with each business that signs up.)

Nikki Johnson of South East London has won a week’s holiday to one of Duchy of Cornwall’s 5* holiday cottages on St Mary’s on the Isles of Scilly. She visited the Duchy Nursery in Lostwithiel in Cornwall earlier this year and filled in a card expressing interest in the Isles of Scilly.  She will claim her holiday in September, which happens to coincide with her husband’s 40th birthday.

Nikki lives in South East London with her husband and three year old son, Thomas. “I’m a part-time mum and scientist working at The Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre at The Institute of Cancer Research in Chelsea, where I’m investigating the genetic factors affecting the risk of breast cancer,” she says. “When I’m not working, Thomas and I love exploring London’s parks and museums, with the Science Museum and Transport Museum being particular favourites of my car-obsessed little boy!”

Well done Nikki and we look forward to welcoming you to the islands in September!

Distinguished speakers and experts in their field are coming to the Isles of Scilly next week to deliver a Masterclass in Intellectual Property, Exporting and Distribution.

Organised by Get Set for Growth Cornwall, which offers fully-funded business and financial advice and services for small businesses with ambitions for sustainable growth, the event is taking place at Tregarthen’s Hotel on Thursday 12th June from 11.30 – 3.15pm.  The event is open to all, free to attend, with lunch included.

AGENDA:
Intellectual Property – 11:30am – 12:30pm
Expert: Tom Moore, IP Specialist Stephens Scown
Do you understand what Intellectual Property is? And how important trademarks, patents and copyright are to your business? We’ll help you understand how you can protect your inventions, website, ideas, designs, logos, names and images to secure your business identity.

Exporting to Grow Your Business – 1pm – 2pm
Expert: Neil Roach – UK Trade & Investment South West
Are you looking to start exporting your products? UKTI will take you through the pros and cons of trading overseas for businesses of all sizes.

Distribution – 2:15pm – 3:15pm
Expert: John Harvey, 3B International
Need help with the distribution of your products? We’ll look at key logistical challenges and how you can manage them to effectively export out of county and overseas.

Anyone wishing to attend the event can call FREEPHONE 0800 121 8955 to book onto one or more of these masterclasses or complete the online booking form.  Islands’ Partnership members can also book through the IP.

“This event should be of excellent value to those business owners on Scilly who have a niche or creative product or service worth protecting. Business owners or managers who might be considering exploring their markets further afield in the UK or abroad will benefit,” says Sam Winters, of Get Set for Growth. “All the guest speakers are highly skilled operators in their field, and it will be a great opportunity for delegates to tap their expertise.”

This evening we have launched a new online survey to discover what our visitors make of their holiday experience to the islands.  The Isles of Scilly Visitors’ Survey 2014 has gone out on the Visit Isles of Scilly Facebook page as well as on the Visit Isles of Scilly website (in the news section).  We will be promoting it on a regular basis through our various online channels and will be asking accommodation providers, too, to distribute to their guests via their social media and online means. It is quite a comprehensive survey from which we hope to glean useful information in order to ascertain not only how and where we can improve our visitor offering but also understand better tourism’s contribution to Scilly’s overall economy.  The survey will be live until the end of the season and all those submit their opinions stand a chance to win two free return flights from Lands End courtesy of Isles of Scilly Travel.  You can view the survey here.