Major developments set to transform Worcester City Quarter
Worcester city is set to see major development in a key location of Shrub Hill Quarter. The scheme will see Isaac Maddox House in Shrub Hill Road renovated and developed into an enterprise center for business use. This will be the first phase of the development of this canal-side site, which will also see new housing in an attractive environment.
A new walking and cycling route would also be created to run from Shrub Hill Road to St Martin’s Quarter, past the new development and there are also plans to refurbish Shrub Hill Station to provide better services and facilities.
The result of these developments will see attractive new canal-side flats created and new employment opportunities with improved transport connections, helping to boost the local economy by opening up new investment opportunities and residential living space.
This new development would sit alongside a broader private sector redevelopment plan for the quarter.
This development is being led by Worcester City Council and has received investment from the Government’s Towns Fund program as well as support across various local partners including the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership via the Government’s Getting Building Fund as well as others.
To find out more about the Shrub Hill Quarter development, visit the Worcester City Council website www.worcester.gov.uk/news/final-schemes-under-19-6m-worcester-towns-fund-to-be-approved
Worcester receives 17.9 million in government investment
Worcester is currently undergoing a facelift due to an influx of funding from a successful Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) bid by Worcester City Council. The scheme will see a transformation of the northern part of the city and pedestrian and cycle access will be improved by creating new accessible routes between Foregate Street Station, the Arches, riverside and Angel Place.
The former Scala Theatre, a Grade-II listed ex cinema which ceased trading in 1973, and the adjoining Corn Exchange, are due to be given a new lease of life by the City Council, establishing a new theater and cultural hub. Once converted, the Swan Theater will relocate from The Moors to this new and exciting central performance venue.
Worcester BID CEO, Sam McCarthy, said: “this fantastic regeneration funding will help to support hospitality and retail within Worcester’s Northern Quarter via improvement to city infrastructure, making our streets even more attractive to the public, businesses and investors alike.”
The regeneration work is due to be completed by March 2024.
Worcester’s bid for Purple Flag status
Worcester BID and city partners West Mercia Police, Worcester City Council and Worcester Regulatory Services have gone through assessment to bring purple flag to the city. If Worcester receives the status, it will show Worcester to house a safe, vibrant, and extensive night-time offer to investors, individuals looking to relocate, holiday makers and more.
The BID and city partners are passionate about maintaining and improving city standards, supporting independent business, and providing both a foundation and support mechanisms for businesses to meet, surpass and maintain all standards. Licensed businesses are encouraged to go above and beyond through measures such as undergoing assessment via Best Bar None.
The Best Bar None scheme, led in the city by Worcester BID, is a Home Office supported accreditation, supporting best practice within licensed venues through an in-depth review of the business. Each accredited business receives a report with ideas to provide an even safer venue and customer experience.
Worcester has committed to development programs including the repurposing of the Scala Theater and improvements in public realm connectivity via the arches, connecting Foregate Street to Riverside parks and the city library. Improved lighting and infrastructure within these areas not only improves look of the city but creates safer streets for our residents and business community.
This is supported by the successful bid in 2021/22 for £511,960 for Safer Streets, a project which aims to improve city center safety.
Innovation in construction sector with new safety system
A Worcestershire business is helping to make construction sites safer through an innovative new solution.
PLINX, based at Malvern Hills Science Park, have built a system which reduces risk to both personnel and expensive machinery across construction sites, making the most of advances in sensor and telecoms technology to prevent accidents and reduce costly down-time associated with such incidents.
With the crucial role the construction industry has to play in developing infrastructure and driving economic growth across the country, improving employee safety and increasing the number of projects that are delivered on time and in budget is a high priority for government and industry alike, and something which is being supported thanks to PLINX.
PLINX’s technology has been well received in the sector through their experience working with HS2 and they are now adding a number of additional features that will provide real value on site, including a site-deployable 5G network which they will be trialling over the next year in Malvern and launching in 2023.
PLINX were accelerated as a business via Worcestershire’s commercial technology accelerator, BetaDen. The BetaDen program provides a 6-month incubator space for businesses to innovate their technology product or service and bring it to market. This is achieved via free office space, funding support and access to dedicated mentors and introductions into various local networks to build collaboration opportunities.
Find out more about BetaDen, the accelerator program offer and their growing technology community by visiting www.beta-den.com
Learn more about PLINX and their innovative work by visiting plinx.io
Launch of the new Inward Investment website for Worcestershire
The Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership has been working in collaboration with the Growth Hub, County Council, District Councils, commercial property developers and others to relaunch the Invest in Worcestershire website, to encourage more investment into the county.
The website provides users with all the latest information on current investment opportunities and highlights the various selling points that Worcestershire has to offer those in the UK and around the globe, and thanks to a brand-new navigation system and simplified design layout, it is easy to use.
Whether it is businesses already based in the county looking to grow, or an external business looking to inward invest, the Invest in Worcestershire website is here to help support.
Visit the website now www.investinworcestershire.co.uk
New Youth Hub Launched at the Hive in Worcester
A new Youth Hub has been launched in Worcestershire to support those coming out of education with their next steps.
The Hub is aimed at 15-24 year olds and will provide a one stop shop to support young people in finding the right career path; providing 1-1 advice with a dedicated advisor, employability workshops and training based at the Hive, Worcester.
The Primary Hub will operate out of the Hive in Worcester with a plan to pop up in additional areas throughout the county to ensure that all young people in the county are supported on their career journey.
The Youth Hub is a partnership with Worcestershire County Council, The Department of Work and Pensions and The Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership.
To find out more about the support available for young people with their careers, visit the Skills4Worcestershire website skills4worcestershire.co.uk
Big names enter the Worcester game
Worcester is passionate about our independent businesses and in fact, 68% of our retailers are independents. Areas of our city have evolved as independent zones over time, each carving a niche for themselves. Two such areas are New Street and Friar Street. These connecting streets not only showcase some of Worcester’s finest history (including Worcester’s oldest pub, The Cardinal’s Hat), but they are home to an eclectic mix of boutiques, bars, restaurants, and museums.
This fantastic independent business base is complemented by our high street favorites such as Boots, M&S and House of Fraser. Excitingly, there are more large names entering the city who have seen the value of locating in a bustling historic city with fantastic shopping, heritage sites and green spaces. In fact, Worcester has just been voted within the Which? top 10 medium sized places to take a short break in the UK, with a score of 74%! Worcester even beat big names such as Oxford for our decadent and varied food and drink offerings.
Most recently, Cathedral Square, Worcester’s modern retail and leisure hub, has seen the award-winning bar and restaurant The Botanist and the exiting activities spot Mr. Mulligans, encompassing indoor mini golf, electro-darts, shuffleboard and more, join the city. Meanwhile our northern quarter has seen Grounded Kitchen, offering delicious Korean inspired dishes open by our central station.
Celebrating achievement within Worcester
A-Plan Insurance (a Howden company) collected the trophy for Insurance Broker of the Year at the prestigious British Insurance Awards on Wednesday 6 July 2022.
They were shortlisted alongside strong competition from five other brokers, and were selected not just because of their excellent, highly personalized advice service they provide their clients, but how they immerse themselves in the communities in which they operate, supporting local clubs, charities, schools , and businesses.
The event took place at the Royal Albert Hall with over a thousand people from across the insurance industry in attendance.
Worcester Branch Manager, James Parker commented, “Winning this award means so much to us all, and highlights that being local, utilizing data and tech, and providing our clients with a truly personalized advised service is what we are all about. Because we don’t sell insurance online and only offer an advised service, in branch or over the phone, this award celebrates all of those things! We couldn’t be prouder and look forward to sharing the wonderful news with our clients.”
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