Action Piccadilly - how to get involved
The Piccadilly Partnership is responsible for setting up and co-ordinating a number of action groups. These groups are formed in response to area-specific or issue-based needs and are entirely made up of full partners.
The groups help to make connections between neighbouring businesses and bring about change in Piccadilly through a joined-up approach. If you are a full partner, you can join any of these groups and in doing so, influence decisions, raise issues and help to resolve them. This involvement could help to add value to your business sector, the Piccadilly environment and facilities and create value for all in Piccadilly.
Aims
Stimulate economic development
Enhance Piccadilly's image
Improve quality of life in the Piccadilly area.
Most groups meet once a month and only operate if there is an ongoing need.
Current Action Groups and their aims include:
Marketing
- Help re-position Piccadilly as a cultural and leisure destination
- Improve public perceptions by ‘celebrating’ Piccadilly
- Promote successes and achievement of Piccadilly to both Partners and the wider community
The group helps the Partnership by supporting regular cultural events and advising the Partnership on official literature. All Partner support helps us to ensure the Partnership’s marketing strategy is delivered, with particular emphasis on encouraging users/consumers to join the Piccadilly Loyalty Card scheme.
Some achievements
- Redesigned website to increase visitor numbers and improve user experience
- Ran successful monthly promotional competitions via e-newsletter and website
- Saw an avergae of 12 pieces per month of PR in local and national press about Piccadilly and the Partnership
Retail
- Provide a forum for retailers' concerns in Piccadilly to encourage improvements
- Provide marketing support to retailers
- Offer professional advice and information through our Retailer’s Panel
Some achievements
- Reduced reports of anti-social behaviour and other incidents by working together with property owners, Greater Manchester Police and the Business Crime System (NBIS)
- Loyalty Card user numbers have increased to over 7,000 (March 2010) from approximately 1,000 at the beginning of 2008.
- Retail Panel formed in September 2009 from expertise within the Partnership to assist retailers.
Security & Environment
- Work with public partners (Cityco, MCC, GMPTE) to provide coherent strategies and policies to combat crime and anti-social behaviour
- Raise any concerns and issues about the environmental status of the area and help to find solutions
Some achievements
- Permanent Greater Manchester Police Pd in Piccadilly Gardens
- Participation in city-wide NBIS Business Crime Information System; the Partnership contributes financially, which has already had an effect on data sharing and criminal behaviour
Hotels
- Work with hoteliers to deal with any concerns; take these to relevant Action Group or public partners
- Provide marketing support and promotion through the Partnership & its Partners
- Collectively, the group runs promotional campaigns to highlight their facilities and increase footfall within their hotels
- Promote & support the Loyalty Card scheme with a range of offers throughout the year
- Support the Partnership during cultural events; hotels often find there is a real economic benefit in providing this support
Some achievements
- Run 2 major promotional campaigns throughout the months of May and August
- Increased take-up of Piccadilly Loyalty Card offers in hotels
- Supported Partnership cultural events with real economic benefit
Piccadilly Gateway
- Work with landowners & developers in the area to support their developments
- Promote & implement change in the public realm
- Provide a forum to raise any concerns and tackle any environmental or security issues
Some achievments
- Brought together landowners, both Partners and non-Partners, along with public Partners to share information and better understand the needs of the ares
- Increased maintenance to Store Street particularly under bridge and increased street lighting.
- Improvements and maintenance undertaken to Fairfield Street on Network Rail, NCP and Manchester City Council land.
Transport
- Work in partnership with GMPTE, Manchester City Council & Cityco to influence transport policy for the improvement of Piccadilly and its businesses
- Resolve any issues with transport on behalf of our Partners
We work to a fair and appropriate formula for contributions to the Piccadilly Partnership. These contributions help to sustain the Partnership and seed fund activities that will change perceptions and the public realm in Piccadilly, Manchester; adding value to your business.
If you are a Partner and would like to get involved in the action groups, please use your intranet HERE to check the dates and most appropriate contact.