The Great British High Street Competition!

great british high streets

The Great British High Street Competition is open and looking for nominations from England, Scotland and Wales’ best high streets. Brand New Forest is a proud supporter of this year’s competition because we want to help champion the wonderful work going on in our local New Forest high streets. This year there are even more chances to win with 10 categories, as well as the opportunity for 4 individuals to be named ‘high street heroes’.

Anyone can nominate their local high street, so if you are working in a local team or know of any business improvement districts, town teams or traders’ association that deserve the spotlight, why not enter? Or, if your local area is entering, please help them to campaign for their high street to win. Winners get the chance to receive a cash prize of up to £10,000 and a range of mentoring and training opportunities, including digital training from Google.

New to 2016, they’re also looking for store managers and employees from national or independent retailers to win a ‘high street hero’ award. If you’d like to enter or know someone who’s working hard on the high street – nominations are open on the Great British High Street website.

The categories are:

For Places:

  • Village – population between 500 to 2,500 residents
  • Local centre – precinct or parade of shops
  • Market Towns – small – population of less than 10,000
  • Market Towns – large – population between 10,000 – 30,000
  • Town Centre – population of more than 30,000
  • City Location – population of more than 200,000
  • Coastal Community
  • London
  • Rising Star – to recognise towns that are turning fortunes around

For Individuals:

  • Best store manager or employee from a national retailer / organisation
  • Best store manager or employee from an independent / small business
  • Best market manager, operator or trader
  • Best under 25 years old

For more information, please visit the Great British High Street website and follow @TheGBHighSt on Twitter.
Applications close on 9 September.

We’ll be at the New Forest Show – Helping local businesses grow

We’ll be at the New Forest Show – Helping local businesses grow

The New Forest Show; held at New Park, Brockenhurst is on 26, 27 and 28 July 2016. Tickets are available online or you can purchase on the day.

At this year’s New Forest Show, we will be forming part of the New Forest District Council’s stand demonstrating how we are ‘Helping Local Business Grow’. The stand also includes the New Forest Business Partnership, The New Forest Destination Partnership and New Forest LEADER.speech_mark_business_grow_brand_asset

Brand New Forest is all about backing the local economy. The way the scheme works in a nutshell is:

  • Businesses (only open to those in the New Forest district) can take advantage of free promotion through the printed offers booklet, online listing and promotion in the Brand New Forest e-newsletter and social media by simply supplying a unique offer for our cardholders

The team behind Brand New Forest then promote these unique offers to our cardholders

  • Cardholders (local residents or visitors) buy the annual £5 card which enables them to take advantage of the hundreds of discounts and offers throughout the New Forest

Therefore stimulating the local economy and at the New Forest Show we will be demonstrating this to visitors to the stand!

So what will Brand New Forest being doing at the Show?

2016 Brand New Forest CardWe will be demonstrating how visitors can  Spend Save & Smile by cutting the cost of summer in the New Forest with a Brand New Forest Card and we are so confident that £££’s can be saved we will be doing a special Buy One Get One Free offer on cards during the three days of the show*

We will be showcasing our Brand New Forest Business of the Year – Hire a Twizy, see why they were awarded the title! There will also be the opportunity to win a days hire just by guessing the number of balls in the Twizy.Brand New Forest Twizy

Wednesday afternoon (12noon – 3pm) sees us launching the Brand New Forest Broadband toolkit (one of our campaigns) and a chance to meet members of the Hyde Community Projects group who are delivering their own private broadband scheme.

If you run a local business or are you thinking of doing so; come and visit the stand as there will be business experts on hand throughout the day to get free business advice to help your business grow.  There is also an opportunity to have a free professional business profile taken and a business drop in zone to allow you to network and engage with other local businesses in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Where you can take the weight of your feet, enjoy the refreshments, charge your phone and most importantly make new business connections.

Visit the New Forest District Council Marquee Block 24 Stand 213

To find out more about the New Forest Show please click here.

*This offer is only available at the New Forest Show

Earn BetterPoints™ with Brand New Forest

Earn BetterPoints™ with Brand New Forest

Brand New Forest and the New Forest National Park Authority (NFNPA) are very pleased to announce that Brand New Forest Card Holders (as well as other residents and visitors to the New Forest) can now earn high value BetterPoints™ simply by choosing to do sustainable and healthy activities in the New Forest area. BetterPoints is a nationwide programme that rewards people for making betterpointshealthy, positive choices in their lives and communities.

You can start earning BetterPoints now (or at anytime) by downloading the BetterPoints app (at the App Store or at Googleplay), signing up and using the app when you are around and about the New Forest. There are specific rewards for walking, cycling, riding the bus and also for simply visiting many of the high streets in the New Forest.

Once you have earned some BetterPoints (which does not take long at all), you can redeem points on the app or online for a wide range of high street brands. These new reward vouchers are in addition to the hundreds of existing discount vouchers available now from Brand New Forest merchants across the villages in the New Forest.

To sign up or simply learn more, please go to brandnewforest.betterpoints.uk or visit the App Store or Googleplay and download the app and start earning today. For further information on BetterPoints, please contact info@betterpoints.uk

family walking

Hundreds Flock to the 2016 Business Expo

Hundreds of business people visited the second New Forest Business Expo at Brockenhurst College on 3 June, where 80 local companies were showcasing their products and services.  The event was organised on behalf of the New Forest Business Partnership (NFBP) and the Brand New Forest Campaign. 

Expo stands, which ranged from food manufacturers and hotels, to renewable energy companies and private detectives, gave exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their offer, meet new customers, and develop their role in a thriving local business community.

A range of business briefings were delivered throughout the day along with tours of Brockenhurst College and demos in the New Forest Cookery School, also based on campus.

Expo

L-R: Cllr Goff Beck (Chairman – NFDC); Bob Jackson (Chief Exec – NFDC); Anthony Climpson (NFDC); Barry Rickman (Leader – NFDC); Desmond Swayne (MP – New Forest West)

Exhibitors and visitors alike were full of praise for the event and social media was alive with testimonials and positive comments:
• “Well done on a really good business exhibition – just what the local business community needs. I’m sure this event will continue to go from strength-to-strength; we will certainly be supporting you with a stand next year.”
•“Good show, great diversity of talent in the Forest.”
•“Really enjoyed my first expo! Looking forward to the next one.”
•“Great day spreading the word about our brilliant New Forest Marque producers.”
• “This was such a fantastic day for us, so worthwhile – what’s the date for next year’s Expo?”
•“We have a lot of exhibiting experience and I would like to have a conversation with you sometime about the superb manner and attitude you have in organising this expo. I wish some of the other organisers would learn a thing or two!”
• “What a successful day and fantastic event at Brockenhurst College today.”

Matthew Lawson, Chairman of NFBP and the organising Expo group, said: ”As an owner of a New Forest business myself, I was delighted we had so many local business exhibitors and visitors. It was a real demonstration of partnership, cooperation, mutual support, networking and doing business together – all in aid of the New Forest Economy. We have had nothing but positive feedback for this locally organised not for profit event to help develop local business and I thank everyone who organised and attended the Expo for their support.”

Cllr Barry Rickman, Leader of New Forest District Council, which supported the Expo said: “This event is becoming so important in creating a locally resilient economy as it brings together suppliers, businesses, retailers, and trades people from across the New Forest to do better business together. The District Council is committed to helping local business grow, which is one of our key priorities and when I visited the Expo I was thrilled to see that the event has continued to build on last year’s success.”

View the full gallery of images here

New Forest Tour 2016

New Forest Tour 2016

Hop on board the New Forest Tour Bus to explore the wonderful New Forest and see the stunning views and wildlife from the open-top deck. The tour’s Red Route, Green Route and Blue Route will once again be running daily from 25 June to 11 September.

Each passenger on the New Forest Tour Bus will be given a temporary Brand New Forest Card to use at our participating businesses on the day of their tour when they stop-off at our Towns and Villages.

Our latest Offers Booklet will be available to passengers on board helping to promote our Brand New Forest businesses and their offers. We also hope, of course, that once the passengers have used their temporary card they will see how great and useful it is and wish to purchase their own permanent card and continue to enjoy all our amazing offers throughout the rest of the year!

Note to our Brand New Forest Businesses – to ensure this scheme runs as smoothly as possible throughout the duration of the Tour, please ensure all staff are aware that they may be presented with this temporary card in order to redeem an offer.

Book your tickets online or at the Visitor Information Centre.

For more information visit the New Forest Tour website.

Things to do during May Half Term

Things to do during May Half Term

We’ve got loads of Brand New Forest money saving days out for you and your family this May Half Term! Whatever the weather, there’s loads to do in the New Forest to keep everyone entertained.paddleboarding

If you like water sports or fancy trying something different this half term The New Forest Paddle Sport Company have got 2 great offers for you. One even includes discount on a day out on the open water, entry into Hurst Castle plus Lunch or Afternoon Tea & a ferry ride back, what a great day out that is! Or make your way to New Forest Water Park where they have some great activities, including their fantastic aqua park. You can get free wetsuit hire with a Brand New Forest card.

Avon Tyrrell UK Youth Outdoor Activity Centre has over a dozen great activities to enjoy this half term including Abseiling, Archery, Canoeing & loads more! All at brilliant prices, plus their great Brand New Forest Offers. Book 6 activities and get 2 free or book and Adventure Day out and get a free coffee, tea or slushy – you can make a day or even two with all their fantastic activities!

It’s Strawberry Season! We love to grow local produce here in the New Forest, it’s so delicious. You and your family can join in the fun too with some great offers on Strawberry picking in 3 different locations in the New Forest. Check out Goodall’s Strawberry Farm, Cat & Fiddle Pick Your Own and Sopley Pick Your Own to see their Brand New Forest offers and to find out more about a great day for everyone this Half Term.

twizyThere’s loads of different ways to get around the New Forest, walking, cycling, on a bus… but maybe it’s time to try out a new way. Hire a Twizy is a fun way to explore the beautiful New Forest this Half Term. With a great offer of 20% off hire you don’t want to miss out!

Horse Riding is so much fun for the kids and for the adults. Why don’t you try it out this Half Term with one of our amazing Riding Schools in the New Forest. We have some fantastic offers from Burley Villa School of Riding, Ford Farm Stables, Brockenhurst Riding Stables and Burley Manor Riding Stables… find the nearest place to you and have a fun filled day in the New Forest on horseback!

 

The Spring/Summer Offers Booklet is out now and for a full list of Brand New Forest money saving offers please click here.

Whatever you and the family decide to do – have a great time during this half term and feel free to share your photos with us on our social media pages.

Spring/Summer Offers Booklet out now

Spring/Summer Offers Booklet out now

The Brand New Forest Winter offers booklet is now available.The latest edition is packed full of fantastic offers at your favourite shops, restaurants, pubs, attractions and service businesses.bnf-offers-leaflet-spring-summer-2016

The leaflet is available at participating Brand New Forest businesses but you can download your own copy here.

Don’t miss out on over 300 incredible savings. Grab your copy and start saving today.

New Forest Business Expo – Friday 3 June

Following last year’s highly successful inaugural New Forest Business Expo at Berthon Marina in Lymington, we’re delighted that this year’s Expo will be held at Brockenhurst College on Friday 3 June, which has great accessibility and offers fantastic  facilities.expo

The focus of this unique event is to  celebrate a dynamic variety and quality of New Forest based products and services from a diverse range of industry sectors.

It’s a superb opportunity for you as an exhibitor to showcase your business to a large number of business visitors, meet and network with other exhibitors, gain valuable business tips and make new contacts, all in one great day.

As a visitor, you can attend the Expo free and make great use of your time –  discover the wealth and diverse array of businesses which are based in and do business in the New Forest, at a  prominent venue with excellent transport links and parking facilities.

Throughout the day there will  informative and relevant sessions presented by engaging industry speakers, with time for questions and discussion.

Quality refreshments at sensible prices will be available at throughout the day.  High quality New Forest products will also be available to view, sample and buy.

For more information please visit the website: http://newforestbusinessexpo.com/

Hyde Community Projects reach major milestone

Hyde Community Projects reach major milestone

We have some fantastic news to report regarding broadband in the New Forest. Hyde Community Projects (HCP) who have been working towards their own privately funded solution  have now received sufficient pledges to allow them to place their order with BT OpenReach.

Big Spin

Big Spin

New Forest Health and Leisure need your help. big spin

Do you work for or are you an owner of a business, local or corporate?

If so, are you willing to donate a raffle prize to our Big Spin event taking place at Totton Health and Leisure Centre on 22nd May? With 222 bikes, 8 fantastic instructors and 180 minutes of indoor cycling Totton Health and Leisure is back with their Big Spin event. This year we have gone bigger and better than ever and we need you to help us raise our grand total of £10,000 for four different local charities. 

 

What’s in it for you?

 As one of our raffle prize sponsors we will promote your brand at our event, where at least 200 people will attend. Give you a shout out on our social media pages and also mention you on our website as a thank you for your generosity.

 For more information please visit http://www.newforest.gov.uk/healthandleisure/article/16819/The-Big-Raffle