ENTERPRISING MINEHEAD

The Enterprising Minehead project continues to make progress under its three main themes of People, Place and Business. Under People ‘West Coast 360’ (name for the Hospitality and Tourism Centre of

Excellence) delivering a range of activities in three distinct areas for the future workforce, current workforce and business support. Details and information about training and events can be found on the new West Coast 360 website www.westcoast360.co.uk.

Under the Place theme two phases of consultation for the eastern esplanade development ran throughout the spring and summer 2018. The consultation influenced the final designs with development intended to progress next year. The guided walk ambassador scheme gained further momentum with walks throughout the 2018 season. Summer artisan markets took place at the harbour, markets will run again during the season next year. A new Maritime Mile heritage trail and open air gallery was launched. Six Edwardian seafront shelters have been refreshed in seaside colours.

Under Business a successful Business Improvement District (BID) ballot took place in April. Businesses worked with partners to form a business plan, details can be found at www.mineheadbid.co.uk. A new brand identity was developed for the town that is included on a new website www.mineheadbay.co.uk, and smartphone App launched in conjunction with the seafront Maritime Mile heritage trail and Open Air Gallery. The Minehead Bay App can be downloaded on IOS and Android devices and includes a Children’s Quiz, if you complete and present the Quiz a prize can be collected from the Minehead TIC!

Enterprising Minehead is a partnership project run through the Coastal Communities

Team, with Council officers heavily involved in its delivery. Thanks go out to all

involved contributing time to help make things happen and shape a better future for

Minehead.

Katrina Midgley

Chair, Coastal Communities Team

Edition 3 - December 2018

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Guided Walk Ambassador Scheme — bringing history to life in Minehead

Since two pilot volunteer guided walks in 2017, this season exceeded expectations with ten

walks taking place throughout 2018.

Walks aim to encourage discovery of Minehead’s rich and varied history, through stories about

folklore, myths and legends, shipwrecks and smugglers, as well as people and places with tales

of the seaside resort. If you want to book, or perhaps interested in joining the team of volun-

teer guides, please get in touch with Minehead Information Centre directly on 01643 702624, or

visit www.mineheadbay.co.uk

PEOPLE

New Branding for Minehead The new brand is aimed to attract new target markets with the in-

tention to re-position the town in the minds of visitors. It features

on the new destination website www.mineheadbay.co.uk. The

brand identity will assist marketing activity and will contribute to

the overall effect of increasing visitor numbers. It provides a set of

high quality professional branding tools and guidelines.

Project developed with Minehead CCT and a Brand Identity Working

Group that was made up of various stakeholders from several key

Minehead Businesses, BID steering group, Engage, West Somerset Railway, SCC, Minehead Town Council and the

District Council.

The partners which form the working group for West Coast 360 have had a busy 12 months. The beginning of the year saw the development of a programme to get young people inspired in the kitchen - The West Somerset Junior – Bake-Off. Six schools in West Somerset got involved with over 1100 children taking part in activities. In February, West Coast 360 sponsored the Eat Exmoor Food and Drink Trade show which helped encourage links between local producers and the hospitality industry. The West Coast 360 website www.westcoast360.co.uk went live in July. This has enabled all future activity such as training opportunities, masterclasses and events to be listed and promoted via the calendar. Later on in the year the West Somerset Ambassador Programme was launched. This is an online programme aimed at helping anyone working in a customer facing role to brush up on their skills and knowledge. This enables local shop-keepers, hotelier or taxi drivers to act as an ‘ambassador’ for the area, passing on knowledge and tips to visiting guests to help them to make more of their stay. The programme is available on the website. More recently, local employees and apprentices have taken part in ‘Welcome Host Gold’ customer service training, land based activity and outdoor emergency health and safety training to broaden their skills base. The end of the year saw the first Masterclass in Chocolate making. Look out for more these sessions to come in the new year!

Some of the activity already planned for 2019 includes:

‘Welcome Host Gold’ Customer Service Training on 6 February

The ‘Recruitment Minehead’ jobs and careers fair on 7th March

Commencement of a Hospitality & Leisure ‘Talent Academy’ – taking a cohort of school children on two

year programme which includes eight experience days based within different local employers.

All opportunities and activities are listed on the calendar at www.westcoast360.co.uk

West Coast 360 - Centre of Excellence in Hospitality & Leisure

BUSINESS www.mineheadbid.co.uk The go-to to

find out more about the BID business plan and latest

news and updates

PLACE Minehead Maritime Mile

A seafront heritage interpretation trail, open air gallery linked with augmented reality App and a

new Minehead destination website www.mineheadbay.co.uk

Launched this summer the Maritime Mile created a new heritage interpretation trail,

running the length of the seafront to showcase Minehead’s maritime history, myths and

legends. The trail has the central theme of ‘find and follow the shells’ way-marked to draw

people along the route.

An open-air gallery features at the trail’s central point displays images and artefacts from Minehead’s past. And there’s even an App (suitable for Android and iOS devices)

The App features a quiz designed to entice people to walk to the Harbour and complete the

trail, those presenting correct answers to Minehead Visitor Centre will be eligible to collect

a prize. This feature technology will also link to the new Minehead destination website for

visitors widening Minehead’s appeal as a tourist destination.

Minehead’s seafront attractions have proved popular this season with feedback received at

the Minehead Visitor Centre, Town and District Councils from visitors sharing their thoughts

and anecdotal stories.

The Visitor Centre have received positive comments regarding the new website, together

with many favourable comments on the open air gallery in particular and relayed ‘Visitors

and residents alike have commented on finding it interesting comparing the Town to ‘then’

and 'now'. It has also brought more people into the Museum to find out more about

Minehead.

Details can be found at https://mineheadcct.co.uk/2018/11/02/minehead-seafront-

attractions-feedback/

These projects in association with Minehead Coastal Community Team were developed in partnership

with Minehead Museum, historian’s, Minehead Development Trust, and Butlin’s.

Six Edwardian Shelter’s are near completion along the seafront. The Coastal Community

Team agreed the new blue and cream colour scheme that provides a welcome, fresh

seaside look.

One of the conditions of the funding was to create an

enterprise opportunity in which planning approval was

granted earlier this year. Trading from this shelter will be

seasonal craft stalls or deck chair hire. Invitations will go out

in 2019 to gauge interest.

Support for events - Minehead Events Group ran a

successful Summer Festival in August that included ‘Thundercats’ ribbed boat racing. This

was the last event for Minehead Events Group, ongoing events for the Town will be co-

ordinated by the BID.

Harbour Artisan Markets (2 year scheme) - six markets were held at the harbour during

the summer holidays. feedback has been very positive, the market co-ordinator reported

an estimated 500 visitors per market. The plan is to run nine markets throughout the

2019 season with the first at Easter. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/

mineheadharbour/

Eastern Esplanade Development

This element of the project focuses on the site between the eastern end of the

promenade (Warren Road roundabout) to the central area of the seafront (next to Jubilee

Café). Two rounds of consultation took place during the first half of 2018 that influenced

the design plans. A combination of hard and soft landscape works, enhanced seating,

lighting and play equipment are planned with work scheduled to start in 2019. We are

currently going through the tender process to appoint a contractor. Drawings can be

found on the Minehead Coastal Community website:

https://mineheadcct.co.uk/2018/05/29/minehead-seafront-enhancements-2nd-stage-

consultation/

Frequently Asked Questions As the project progresses, there has been particular interest in the ‘Place’ elements with

questions raised directly as well as on social media, all indicating that awareness of the

project is growing. For frequently asked questions about the project where we hope help

explain why certain things can and cannot be achieved as part of Enterprising Minehead can be

found at https://mineheadcct.co.uk

Find out more

Enterprising Minehead is a partnership project run through the Minehead Coastal Communities Team.

West Somerset Council is acting as the accountable body for funds which have been secured by the

partnership to date.

Details can be found on the MCCT website: https://mineheadcct.co.uk or on MCCT Facebook:

www.facebook.com/MineheadCCT. MCCT contact email: mineheadcct@gmail.com

Minehead Business Improvement District website: www.mineheadbid.co.uk

West Somerset Council lead project officers:

Gordon Dwyer gdwyer@westsomerset.gov.uk and Nicki Maclean nmmaclean@westsomerset.gov.uk

FAQS

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