IN Touch - Issue 7

Treat your team with an Aberdeen Gift Card

This festive season give the perfect gift to your staff with the Aberdeen Gift Card. Starting at just £10 it is the perfect little thank you that gives them a world of choice in their pocket!

Accepted by over 200 city businesses including national brands such as M&S, Next and Waterstones as well as independent local businesses like Hamish Munro, No.10 and Annie Mo’s the gift card gives so much choice on what and where to spend it whilst supporting hundreds of local businesses.

If you’d like to find out more about placing a corporate order or want to accept the card (which is free to be part of) please email roule.wood@aberdeeninspired.com or simply click this link to place an order. Customised/branded card holders can be offered and are free for bulk orders over a certain value. To find out more about the gift card you can also visit our website.

New businesses join the Aberdeen Gift Card scheme

With around 200 businesses in Aberdeen City already signed up, the Aberdeen Gift Card is delivering a much-needed boost directly back into local economy. We have had several new retailers and hospitality businesses join the free scheme recently, so here are some of the new places where you can spend the Aberdeen Gift Card.

• Kirkview Café
• Bloom Lifestyle Salon
• LoLo & Co
• Mi Amore Restaurant
• Spar Stores, Aberdeen City
• Boots Stores, Aberdeen City
• Douglas Dickie
• Flowerscene
• M&S Bridge of Don
• M&S Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
• M&S Union Sq
• Cults Stores
• Schuh Retail
• Breadmaker

Want to join the free scheme? Click here & check out our full list of businesses that accept the gift card here.

Times running out to help shape Aberdeen City Centre

If you run a business in Aberdeen City Centre now is the time to make your views heard on how the city centre is reimagined.

Aberdeen City Council has commissioned designers to reimagine the city centre. They are developing a vision for the future of the heart of Aberdeen, looking at these key streets and spaces within the city centre: Union Street, the West End (Rose St, Thistle St and Chapel St), Castlegate and Aberdeen Market, as well as streets from Belmont Street down to Upperkirkgate.

It is important that they understand the needs of local businesses and listen to your views. This survey will inform them about requirements in terms of access, travel and waste collection, as well as inviting your ideas for Aberdeen.

The questions should take no more than 10 minutes to answer. Survey closes on 15 October. Be sure to make your voice heard, take part here today.

Curated in the Quad Market

We are so excited to be bringing back the Christmas Market within Marischal College's Quadrangle - this year in partnership with Curated Aberdeen by Charlie House.

Levy payers, such as Lush and OGV, have taken part in successful markets in previous years and we welcome applications from city businesses.

Applications are now open for stallholders, which can be submitted online here. 100% of stallholder fees will go to Charlie House, to support the incredible work they do in our local area. Curated in the Quad will run every Friday - Sunday starting from 19 Nov until 19 Dec.

Curated Aberdeen within Bon Accord will still be operating as usual throughout November and December with both markets providing a perfect shop local option this Christmas.

Comedy Weekender hailed a success

After our successful weekend filled with funny ladies Katherine Ryan, Olga Koch, Sara Barron & Luisa Omielan, we can’t wait to see Aberdeen International Comedy Festival back in full swing next year! With headliner Jack Dee on sale now, the festival is gearing up to be the biggest and best comedy extravaganza yet.

If you can’t wait until next year, we have fan favourite Daniel Sloss taking to the Music Hall stage next month. Get your tickets now, they’re selling fast. Buy them here.

Suspended Signage lights up City Centre

Earlier this month, work began on the installation of a creative suspended signage project in Aberdeen City Centre which will highlight some of the city's key areas and enhance the wayshowing offering to help make Aberdeen a leading pedestrian friendly city.

The first signs were installed on Belmont Street and Langstane Place and the remaining signs will be put in place over coming weeks in locations including Merchant Quarter, Shiprow and Chapel Street in the West End.

As we continue to navigate through the recovery period it is more important than ever to highlight what the heart of Aberdeen has to offer. We're keen to encourage people, whether local or visiting, to explore the city and support local businesses. The suspended signage scheme assists in making the city safer and more welcoming to visitors, as well as building on the identity of the city centre.

This scheme has been made possible by Aberdeen Inspired, after securing funding from The Scottish Government Town Centre Fund in 2019 for the design and install of the illuminated street signs to encourage pedestrian movement within the city centre. No levy was used for this project.

Read more here.

The world’s biggest Panto comes to P&J Live

After amazing previous productions of Elf, Cinderella and Peter Pan, Wizard of Oz is the brand-new spectacular Christmas show set to lift the art of arena panto right over the rainbow to Aberdeen’s P&J Live on Friday, 17 December 2021. Starring ‘One Show’ and ‘Countryfile’ star Matt Baker & Jenny Ryan who is best known as ‘The Vixen’ on ITV’s hit show ‘The Chase’, you’re sure to be in for a night of fun!

Read more and get your tickets here.

Tivoli backs Aberdeen Inspired by becoming voluntary levy payer

The Tivoli Theatre has reinforced its backing of Aberdeen Inspired’s work and signed up to be a voluntary levy payer.

The Tivoli Theatre, which reopened last month, joins other voluntary levy payers such as Aberdeen Football Club, Books and Beans, Café 52, Brodies and CBRE.

Caroline Morgan, Managing Director of The Tivoli Theatre, said: “We have worked closely with Aberdeen Inspired over a number of years, particularly as a host venue for the Aberdeen International Comedy Festival. For us it was an easy decision to become a voluntary levy payer.

“Now more than ever, businesses in the city centre need to be united as we all work towards recovery after such a prolonged and difficult period. The value and support we get from Aberdeen Inspired for a fee of just over £100 is just phenomenal, not only from events, but all the positive work they do within the city centre to make it safe and welcoming too.”

Read more here.

Provost Skene House Reopens

This weekend, Provost Skene House reopened following a major refurbishment. Plan a trip and discover the stories of over 100 pioneering people from Aberdeen and the North-East who have not only shaped our city, but also transformed the world!

Cllr Boulton was joined on Friday by Olympic swimmer Hannah Miley, writer Stuart MacBride and illustrator Johanna Basford for a special preview.

Triple Olympian and Commonwealth Champion swimmer Hannah Miley said: “I’m proud to be included in the Sporting Champions display at Provost Skene’s House. I believe that the key to success in my swimming career is never giving up and always trying to find the positive in everything, as well as not being afraid of doing things differently. Looking at the other amazing people featured in the new attraction, I’m clearly in good company!”

Read more here.

Business Transition Fund

Aberdeen City Council have launched a new Business Transition Fund to provide grants support of up to £30,000 to local businesses with growth potential, to support their recovery by adapting their business to meet the challenges of the post Covid-19 economic landscape.

This fund will assist businesses to develop new solutions to counter the economic impacts of the pandemic, including but not limited to digital adoption, energy efficiencies and Net Zero transition, building adaption and workforce development.

The purpose of the fund is to support businesses who are not able, due to immediate financial pressures, to adapt to new ways of working or to make investment towards remaining competitive in a post Covid-19 economy.

Grants are tiered to the size of business, from £5,000 to individuals through to £30,000 for Medium sized businesses. Further information including the full criteria and online application form is available here.

Aberdeen Local Transport Strategy Consultation

The Aberdeen Local Transport Strategy is the plan for the development of the City’s transport network over a five-year period. It includes a list of actions to be completed over the 5-year period & deals with different types and subjects of transport including walking, wheeling, cycling, public transport, freight, taxis, motorcycles, car sharing, car clubs, car and van use, parking, maintenance and low carbon fuels.

They want to understand what you consider to be the main issues currently facing the transport network in Aberdeen as well as what you think works well, what needs improvement and how you think things could be improved, so they are starting this process with their Main Issues Consultation

Make your views heard here. Consultation closes Sunday 14 November.

Spot anti-social behaviour, call 101!

As the city centre gets busier, we have been made aware there has also been a rise in anti-social behaviour especially surrounding fast-food outlets, the City Church Yard and on the top deck of the Bon Accord Centre.

We strongly recommend our levy payers utilise the 101 system to report all concerning incidents. This is critical to ensuring that Police Scotland are fully aware of the issues in the city centre and can resource them appropriately.

Aberdeen Inspired are always willing to help assist our levy payers and wish to know about these concerns, however, we are not a substitute for reporting incidents to the police.

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