vote of confidence Visit West End team re-elected and helping businesses re-open one step at a time
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he team behind the Byres Road and Lanes Business Improvement District, which most of us know by its brand nameVisit West End, has been re-elected for another five years. Right now Deborah Murray, project manager, John Turner, chairman and the team are hard at work focussing on a task no one ever could have imagined – navigating the effects of the pandemic and its aftermath. They are helping to keep the area’s businesses resilient and ready to bounce back as the risk of Covid-19 recedes and shops, services and the community slowly open up for everyday life once again. ‘The businesses that have been allowed to open have been busy changing how they do things and offering a mix of familiar and new products to the community. As more shops and restaurants open their doors we will be reminding people of the wealth of great services and quality items that they can get on their doorstep, shopping and eating locally, and staying safe while they do so,’ said Deborah. The whole concept of improvement districts is a perfectly-fitted response to the pandemic, namely to keep areas vibrant and prosperous places to live and work with viable ranges of shops and services. The public face of Visit West End is events like the Byres Road Fashion Show, Outdoor Cinema in the Botanics, Byres Road Book Festival and Christmas on Byres Road. Behind the scenes lot of work goes on lobbying, liaising, researching and networking to get the best deals for businesses of all shapes and sizes and helping them to thrive.
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Above: The Parlour, Vinicombe Street, showing its support for the NHS.
At present this involves advising businesses on grants available and how best to apply for them, and generating a massive social media presence. The social media campaign is keeping West End residents informed of what is on their doorsteps; from food retailers to restaurants and cafes offering takeaways. It is also geared up to promote and retain the area’s reputation as a destination once people can move about more freely. Visit West End is also in discussion with Glasgow City Council and its Space for People plans to create more waking and cycling space within the city. WWW.WESTENdLIFE.bIz
