Leading mainland suppliers from across Cornwall, the West Country and beyond are beginning to arrive on St. Mary’s today and are setting up their exhibition stands ahead of this year’s Supply Scilly event, which takes place tomorrow, Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd February.

The trade, hospitality and business services show, held to showcase mainland goods and services to businesses on Scilly looks set to be another success, with 25 suppliers, the biggest number ever, attending and exhibiting at the show, which this year is once again hosted by Tregarthen’s Hotel.

With free entry for all, businesses on Scilly are encouraged to attend and take advantage of the great trade deals – and tastings – on offer. Exhibitors include many of the region’s leading catering suppliers and wholesalers who will be offering fantastic new product ranges and great services tailored to the Scillonian customer.

Supply Scilly has once again being organised by the Islands’ Partnership in collaboration with Tregarthen’s Hotel. David Jackson, Executive Director at the Islands’ Partnership says: “We’re delighted to be organising Supply Scilly again this year with the support of Tregarthen’s Hotel. After last year’s fog-bound event, it’s great that the sun is shining on us this year and all the exhibitors have arrived. This pre-season event is a fantastic opportunity for businesses on Scilly to have dedicated access to many of the region’s leading suppliers. I’m sure that lots of good business will be done over the next two days.”

Exhibitors include an exciting range of food and drinks suppliers, catering specialists, accommodation suppliers, as well as IT and trade professionals, insurance brokers and business merchants. To see a full list of the exhibitors, go to the Supply Scilly website at www.supplyscilly.co.uk. For further information, just click on the links in the suppliers list.

Find Supply Scilly at Tregarthen’s Hotel, St Mary’s from 9am to 5pm on Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd February from 9am to 4pm.

As many of you will know, over the last few months, the Islands’ Partnership has been leading the process of developing the islands’ first Destination Management Plan.

Recognising the fundamental importance of tourism to these islands, this Destination Management Plan will set out a new vision and a renewed sense of direction for the future of Scilly’s visitor economy.

It’s a bold plan, with fresh thinking and ambition around what our tourism industry – so critical to these islands – could become. 

However, it is a plan that relies on collaboration and a shared commitment from everyone to play their part. It’s all the more vital therefore that we get your input and that of the islands’ business community, into this process.

We would therefore encourage as many people as possible to attend one of the following consultation workshops taking place across the islands over the next couple of weeks. This is your opportunity to have your say on a plan that will shape the future of the islands’ tourism industry.

Destination Management Plan – Consultation Workshops

Tuesday 20th February 10.30am – 11.30am  St. Agnes Island Hall

Thursday 22nd February 5pm – 6.30pm  Wesleyan Chapel, St. Mary’s

Friday 23rd February 10am – 11am   Bryher Community Hall

Friday 23rd February 2pm – 3pm   St. Martin’s Island Hall

Monday 26th February 2pm – 3pm   Tresco (venue TBC)

At each workshop, the IP team will be presenting the latest thinking from the plan followed by Q&A and an opportunity for open discussion and your own input.

We look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible.

The Islands’ Partnership is delighted to announce the programme for this year’s Scilly Business Week which is taking place 5^th – 9^th March. It promises to be another packed week of expert advice, networking and essential workshops for business operators across the islands.

The week-long series of events are all designed to enhance the productivity, efficiencies and profitability of businesses operating across the islands.  For the second consecutive year, the Islands’ Partnerships is also delighted to be supported by the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Growth & Skills Hub, who help businesses access the right support and training opportunities to improve develop and grow.

Hot topics this year include getting ready for the new GDPR Regulation that comes into force in May, which will affect nearly every business on the islands; the inside track and benefits of online book-ability, including forthcoming plans for the VisitIslesofScilly.com website; the need to embrace digital tools to maximise business productivity; digital marketing and social media updates, and sessions on how the islands’ businesses and our economy can benefit from the Smart Islands programme and also become a Plastic Free Scilly.                          

We are also honoured this year to welcome Donna Kehoe from the Bank of England who will be hosting a Business Leaders’ Round Table discussion as well as open-to-all networking event so that she can meet as many of the local business operators as possible; and Tim Bagshaw from Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership who will be delivering a keynote session on the recently published 10 Opportunities for Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly prospectus which sets out the region’s ‘21^st Century’ pitch to government and business for future, post-Brexit investment.

The week will culminate with an Islands’ Partnership members’ forum and business showcase where it will set out its plans for 2018. This will include an update on the forthcoming Destination Management Plan which sets out a new roadmap for tourism on Scilly, further details on ‘Creative Islands’, our Cultural Destinations Project, and an opportunity for businesses themselves to showcase their own developments and new openings for 2018. This will be followed by a special Taste of Scilly networking lunch, displaying some of Scilly’s excellent food and drink produced across the islands.

Chris Phillips, Senior Business Connector from the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Growth Hub, Trish Peacock, Skills Connector from the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Skills Hub, plus advisors from Cultivator Cornwall, Superfast Business Cornwall, Oxford Innovation, Access to Finance, Unlocking Potential, Isles of Scilly Voucher Scheme and Newquay for Excellence will also be on hand throughout the week to offer private one-to-one sessions who are looking for specific business support and/or funding advice. 

“Scilly Business Week is now well established on the Islands’ Partnership calendar and continues to grow in stature year-on-year,” says David Jackson, Islands’ Partnership Executive Director. “We’re delighted this year to welcome speakers from the Bank of England and Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership who, alongside a raft of business experts in their field, make up a really compelling programme for our business community.  We hope that business owners from across the islands and all industry sectors will see the value in the superb range of workshops on offer at this year’s Scilly Business Week and would encourage them to sign-up while places are still available.”

“We’re very pleased once again to be supporting Scilly Business Week this year,” adds Stu Anderson, Operations Director for Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Growth Hub & Skills Hub. “It’s a great fit with the work that we do at the Growth & Skills Hub, connecting business owners and entrepreneurs with the right support, funding and training opportunities to help them work smarter and grow in a way that is right for them.”

All the sessions are free (except the GDPR workshop which is subsidised). IP members are given priority bookings. Participants can book their places by calling the Islands’ Partnership office on 01720 620601 or emailing enquiries@islandspartnership.co.uk.

The full programme can be viewed on our dedicated Scilly Business Week page.

Following the Isles of Scilly outstanding success at last November’s Cornwall Tourism Awards, this tiny archipelago of just 2,200 people has once again punched well above its weight the South West Tourism Excellence Awards.

Last night, on 1^st February, at a spectacular awards ceremony in Torquay’s Riviera International Conference Centre, Hell Bay Hotel on Bryher picked up the GOLD gong for Best Small/Boutique Hotel of the Year (for the second time in three years), whilst Star Castle scooped a BRONZE award for Best Bistro/Restaurant of the Year, ranked alongside renowned eateries, Menu Gordon Jones in Bath and Dorset’s Guildhall Tavern.  Scilly Seal Snorkelling, based on St. Martin’s also won a BRONZE award in the Active & Sporting Experience category.

The South West is England’s Top Tourism Region and this year’s awards saw a record 645 entries. The Awards team of 40+ judges then undertook a record 416 visits to entrants before the independent South West awards panel made their decisions.

Hotel owner and lobster fisherman, Robert Francis commented: “The restaurant had a fantastic end to 2017 with our silver Cornwall Tourism Award. To go one further and be recognised for our contribution to the wider South West’s food offerings is the perfect way to start 2018.  This award wouldn’t have been possible without the passion and dedication of every member of our team and so we thank them wholeheartedly and look forward to another great year ahead.”

Anna Cawthray, owner of Scilly Seal Snorkelling also thanked her team: “I am delighted that all their hard work has been recognised. Here’s to another great season for Scilly Seal Snorkelling.”

And Philip Callan, General Manager of Hell Bay Hotel added: “We are absolutely delighted to have received the Gold Award at this year’s South West Tourism Awards. We were up against some very tough opposition across the region so this is a fantastic achievement for Hell Bay Hotel and for all the dedicated staff who make it such a lovely place for our guests to come and stay. Congratulations to all the award winners, especially our fellow Scilly representatives – what a showcase for the islands!”

“The South West Tourism Awards was a truly impressive evening for the Isles of Scilly – winning three honours for the islands amongst hundreds of businesses across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Bath and Somerset,” noted David Jackson, Executive Director, Islands’ Partnership (the Destination Management Organisation for the Isles of Scilly). “We are thrilled that the leading businesses across the islands continue to drive our visitor economy forward with a fantastic tourist offering. We hope this marks the start to a great season across the islands.”

The full list of finalists can be found on the South West Tourism Awards website.