BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
CONTACT
WEBSITE
SOCIAL MEDIA
BID Director: sarah-jane@tunbridgewellstogether.co.uk
Visit us online: www.rtwtogether.com
Instagram and Twitter: @rtwtogether
RTW TOGETHER BID ABOUT THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
The RTW Together Business Improvement District is a not-for-profit organisation that is funded by, and represents businesses in Tunbridge Wells town centre. The BID works to deliver projects to increase footfall, improve the trading environment and promote the area, providing services such as the town centre’s Christmas lights, street improvements, business training, events and marketing campaigns. The Business Improvement District is a defined area of Royal Tunbridge Wells town centre. Businesses within this footprint contribute an annual levy based on the rateable value of the premises. RTW Together manages these funds to carry out improvement activities, marketing and events to improve trading conditions within the town centre.
The BID and its operations are managed by the BID Director, whilst a board of voluntary Directors oversee the work of the BID team. The board is comprised of business representatives who fairly represent various sectors across the town centre. The BID was formed in 2019 after a yes! vote from local businesses and stands to run until 2024. There are BIDs across the country, and more locally, Maidstone and Canterbury also have Business Improvement Districts. www.rtwtogether.com instagram.com/rtwtogether twitter.com/rtwtogether linkedin.com/company/rtwtogether
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SERVICES WHAT WE DO FOR THE TOWN CENTRE
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Supplying Christmas lights for Tunbridge Wells town centre Marketing businesses for free by producing a town centre magazine, promotional videos and running campaigns across social media Financially supporting events which benefit the town centre, through event grants Organising events and activities to increase footfall Promoting the town centre through press coverage and advertising Producing tourist materials and guides Providing free training for town centre workers Street scene improvements, such as floral planters, displays and installations
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Working with Safe Town Partnership and Kent Police to rollout town centre safety initiatives Representing the interests of businesses to local authorities
2021-2022 TOWN CENTRE MAGAZINE READ ALL ABOUT IT
RTW Together launched a town centre magazine, free in print and online, to showcase businesses for free. www.rtwtogether.com/magazine
FESTIVE DOOR BOWS CHRISTMAS WAS ALL WRAPPED UP
Despite an uncertain year, the BID delivered a new program of projects, with BID Director Sarah-Jane taking the helm from July 2021. Here are a few of the
2021 saw the return of the BID’s popular fabric door bow giveaway, gifting businesses a free item of decor to get wrapped up for Christmas. The scheme will be back and bigger than ever for Xmas 2022.
ways we boosted footfall, improved the look of the town centre, and promoted local businesses over the past few months - all made possible by you. 4
FREE SELF DEFENCE KICKING INTO ACTION
The RTW Together BID provided 200 town centre workers the chance to attend a free professional, one hour self defence class, instructed by Surge Self Defence. We also gifted a free personal alarm to attendees. www.rtwtogether.com/bidschool
REMEMBRANCE DISPLAY A FITTING FLORAL TRIBUTE
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
The RTW Together Business Improvement District counted down to the period of Remembrance for 2021 with a large-scale display in Royal Tunbridge Wells town centre. The BID dressed the clock tower in Calverley Precinct in a striking collection of artificial poppies and autumnal foliage, cascading down the legs and onto the base of the landmark.
Royal Tunbridge Wells Together supplies and funds the Christmas lights scheme for the town centre, having taken over the provision of the lights in 2020. 2021 saw the second year of the display, including a new reindeer sculpture in Calverley Square, new lights for Chapel Place and additional columns added to Camden Road.
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HIGH STREET PARKLETS PUTTING DOWN ROOTS WITH PLANTERS
A project delivered by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, RTW Together provided funding towards the installation of parklets and planters in the High Steet, encouraging footfall, improving the appearance of the area and improving dwell time.
FREE STOP TOPPS
TOWN CENTRE MAPS
PUTTING A LID ON DRINK SPIKING
Illustrated by local artist Elaine Gill, the BID commissioned a town centre map, with information about things to see and do across the town centre.
RTW Together has funded anti-drink spiking foils for NTE and hospitality venues. This has been partenered with free drink spiking awareness training for pub and club staff.
Free stock of the map and holders were made available to businesses. www.rtwtogether.com/map
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CHRISTMAS SHORT FILM BUSINESSES SEEN ON SCREEN
To raise awareness of the fact that the town centre’s Christmas lights are funded by town centre businesses, via RTW Together, we commissioned a glossy short film in which Father Christmas collects lightbulbs from BID businesses, before switching on the lights display. The video received over 2k views online.
EVENT GRANTS MAKING MEMORIES
The BID put its hands in its pockets to make many town centre events possible, such as the Museum of the Moon, Jazz on the Pantiles, TW Fringe Festival, Tunbridge Wells Mela and Local and Live.
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MARKETING CAMPAIGNS To mark the New Year, the BID created a campaign featuring 22 business for the first 22 days of 2022. Following its success, the BID ran a new social media message, asking town centre businesses what they love about Royal Tunbridge Wells, published daily in the run up to Valentine’s Day.
2022-2023 THE BID’S YEAR AHEAD
Back at full speed, your RTW Together BID has an ambitious year of high impact project delivery ahead.
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We will be focusing on: • • • • •
Carrying out street scene improvement projects Celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee Extending the Christmas lights scheme Arranging town centre Christmas lights events Supporting town centre events, such as sponsor-
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ing the inaugural Literary Festival at the Amelia Producing a series of promotional films Offering a wide range of free training for town cente workers Installing displays and exhibitions Creating shopping guides and the town centre magazine I ncreasing our free marketing offerings for businesses Installing footfall counters
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GET INVOLVED LET US SHOUT ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS!
View all ways to make the most of your RTW Together services at www.rtwtogether.com/business • • • • • • •
Get promoted for free on our social media Be filmed for promotional videos and films Be showcased in our press and advertising campaigns Free features in the print and online editions of the BID’s town cente magazine Join our Whastapp group for businesses Receive free items such as Christmas door bows, posters, products etc. Take part in free training courses for you and
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your staff Free full page adverts within the digital version of our town centre magazine Be a stockist of our maps, shopping guides and magazines, with free stock and holders Request grant funding for an event that benefits the town centre Apply to join our board and steer our work Come along to monthly online meetups Attend our AGM and vote on BID matters
WE ARE ALL THE BID LET’S DO THIS, TOGETHER, TUNBRIDGE WELLS
The Business Improvement District is a community - we welcome your input, engagement and participation. Here are a few ways to keep up with the latest:
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We operate a friendly WhatsApp group chat for all genres of business within Royal Tunbridge Wells town centre. If you would like to network with our business community, and hear the latest opportunities and news from RTW Together, contact us to be added: 07808646758
BID, hear relevant information from guest speakers and offer suggestions on town centre improvements and get involved in our projects.
We also host a monthly video call catch up for town centre businesses keep up to date with the work of the
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Sign up to our monthly newsletter at www.rtwtogether.com
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You can also contact the BID Director at any time: sarah-jane@ tunbridgewellstogether.co.uk