The shortlisted finalists in the Cornwall Tourism Awards 2017/18 have been announced and once again, the Isles of Scilly will be well represented at this year’s ceremony taking place at the Headland Hotel in Newquay, Cornwall on Thursday 2^nd November.

This year, five Scilly businesses will be honoured with either Gold, Silver or Bronze Awards. They are:

• Scilly Seal Snorkelling in the Active & Sporting Experience of the Year category
• Karma St. Martin’s – in the Dog Friendly Business of the Year category
• Star Castle in the Restaurant/Bistro of the Year category
• Hell Bay Hotel – in the Small/Boutique Hotel of the Year category (for the fourth consecutive year)
• Islands’ Regatta (Visit Isles of Scilly/Islands’ Partnership) – in the Tourism Event/Festival of the Year category

In addition, The Wheelhouse, Tregarthen’s Hotel & Cottages and Karma St. Martin’s were all Highly Commended in this year’s selection process in the B&B of the Year, Self-Catering Holiday Provider and Small/Boutique Hotel of the Year categories, respectively.

Hell Bay Hotel has been a finalist in the Small Hotel of the Year category for the last four years, scooping Gold in the last three years and going on to represent Scilly at both the regional South West Tourism Awards and nationally at the VisitEngland Awards. Scilly Seal Snorkelling, Karma and Star Castle are also previous Cornwall Tourism Award finalists.

The Islands’ Partnership was again instrumental this year in encouraging members to take part in the Awards, and in assisting those businesses who came forward to write their bids. All businesses who submit applications benefit from receiving the judges’ reports and recommendations following the extensive three-stage judging process.

“We’re delighted for all the businesses on Scilly who have been named finalists and who have been Highly Commended at this year’s awards,” says David Jackson, Executive Director, Islands’ Partnership. “Every year, the judging gets tougher as visitors’ expectations increase, so it is great to see that Scilly remains competitive with the rest of Cornwall. We are particularly pleased to see that the Islands’ Regatta, a real showcase event last year that delivered a fantastic boost to Scilly’s visitor economy, has been recognised,” he adds. “We wish all five of our finalists the very best of luck on the 2^nd November; let’s hope it’s another great night for Scilly.”

Robin Barker, Director of Services for Tourism who runs the awards programme comments: “Yet again, the Isles of Scilly have performed well in the judging process this year. With five finalists and three Highly Commended businesses, we are really seeing an increase in quality from the leading tourism businesses on the islands. All concerned are to be warmly congratulated.” 

Successful businesses in the Cornwall Awards will be fast tracked into the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in February 2017 and possibly invited to represent Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in the 2016/2017 National VisitEngland Awards.

The Islands’ Partnership, together with Oxford Innovation and Superfast Business Cornwall, is offering three workshops for businesses across Scilly this September. Businesses across the islands are invited to sign up and enjoy the fully-funded training all of which is designed to help them operate more efficiently and profitably.

On 20th and 21st September, Oxford Innovation will be offering Business Planning and Retail workshops, respectively, whilst the following week on 26th and 27th September, digital business analysts from Superfast Business Cornwall will be on island to deliver and extensive Technology for Business to help SMEs get to grips with the technology that’s out there and how they can put to great use very easily – to increase sales, exceed customers’ expectations and keep their operating costs down.

Any businesses are eligible to sign up – they just need to book their places by calling the Islands’ Partnership on 01720 424036 or emailing enquiries@islandspartnership.co.uk

The details are:

BUSINESS PLANNING WORKSHOP
Wednesday 20th September, 10.30am – 1pm
Tregarthen’s Hotel Conservatory

The 2017 season may well be winding down, but now is just the time to assess how well it went and plan for 2018 and beyond. Did you make your target sales? Were all your customers happy? Did you deliver on your promises? Did you set business goals – and achieve them? Did your new ideas pan out as expected? What might you do differently next year, and beyond?
Step out of your day-to-day business churn and join Peter Turpie, business strategy coach at Oxford Innovation on Wednesday 20th September for a morning’s workshop to think about, and plan for, your business’s future. He’ll talk you through a simple framework that you help you consider what you really want out of your business and how you can achieve your ambitions. Afternoon one-to-ones with Peter will be available to all attendees who sign up and attend the workshop.

RETAIL WORKSHOP
Thursday 21st September
10.30am – 12.30pm
Tregarthen’s Hotel Conservatory

Calling all Scilly retailers! Whether you sell gifts, artwork, fashion, food or stamps, this workshop is for you. Hosted by retail coaches, Luis Gordon and Lynda Clark from Oxford Innovation, it will focus on multi-channel retailing and the changing world of the high street. Get great tips on how to satisfy customers’ increasingly demanding expectations (for locals and visitors), make online shopping and mail-order work harder for you, and discuss ways in which you, as retailers, can work together as a community to optimise opportunities. The workshop will also look at examples of good and bad shop fronts and customer experiences (but not ones from Scilly!). One-to-one sessions will also be available on request to all attendees.

TECHNOLOGY FOR BUSINESS WORKSHOP
Tuesday and Wednesday 26th & 27th September (9.30am – 4pm)
Lifelong Learning, St. Mary’s

This is a two-day workshop hosted by Superfast Broadband Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly and funded by the European Regional Development Fund. It is open to new businesses that started trading in the last 12 months or those who have the ambition to grow and sell their product or service outside of Cornwall in the near future. (Other restrictions apply, such as no accommodation providers or fishing/farming businesses.) The practical and jargon-free workshop looks at digital technologies that businesses can adopt and exploit to help them to be more productive and efficient as well as help them grow. One to ones are also available from Digital Business Analysts throughout the two days on Scilly.

The Islands’ Partnership has launched the programme for this year’s Walk Scilly Weekend 2017, taking place from 12th to 16th October. 

Covering five of the inhabited islands plus Tean, there will be a total of 19 guided walks and a boat trip, all themed to show off the islands during the autumn months and encourage visitors to the islands later on in the year. Highlights include a Dark Skies walk on St. Martin’s to raise funds for the planned new Observatory, two foraging walks, including one with a special feast at Karma St. Martin’s and the ever-popular island Top to Toes as well as plenty of opportunity to turn detective and seek out bats, birds, butterflies and bees! For those in need of resting their weary legs, there will be a special boat safari to the Western Rocks to check out the seabirds and seals (often seen with their pups at this time of year.)

“Autumn is a very special time of year on Scilly and it’s great that we host this event to help extend the season for visitors and businesses well into October,” says David Jackson, Executive Director of the Islands’ Partnership, says: “The wildlife is spectacular  in October, with resident and migrating birds to spot, seal pups to catch sight of, and Scilly bees and bats to seek out. The hedgerows and rock pools are fantastic for foraging, too.”

Check out the full programme on VisitIslesofScilly.com/WalkScilly