Business Advice Opportunities for Pubs and B&Bs
1 March 2006: Tourism South East (TSE) is supporting Business Links throughout the South East region in running a series of seminars for two tourism sectors with considerable growth opportunities - rural pubs and B&Bs.
The seminars are part of an initiative, funded by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), for rural businesses to access information, advice and support to help them explore new opportunities to generate income.
The pub seminars will focus on the benefits of diversifying into quality accommodation through upgrading existing facilities or investing in new ones linked to their food offer, character, ambiance and location.
The pubs seminars will also outline a business path for properties to follow in order to achieve success, for example addressing business planning, financing, planning issues, quality assurance and marketing. Delegates will also be sign-posted towards further Business Link and TSE specialist advice and skills development services.
The Surrey B&B seminar is specifically focusing on potential new B&B providers and will give clear advice to those wanting to start a business. Elsewhere in the region, the B&B seminars are aimed at existing providers who want to upgrade and develop the quality of their B&B via a range of measures including local performance and demand trends (where info available), business development, legal and regulatory updates, understanding and making the National Quality Assurance Scheme work for the business, marketing tips and the benefits of working together in a network.
Paul Jeffries, TSE Senior Development Manager, said "The seminars are an excellent opportunity for rural pub and B&B owners to come together and learn about new ideas and opportunities to benefit their organisation, helping them to maximise their business potential and generate more income."
The pubs seminars will run from 10am to 1pm, and the B&B seminars from 10.45am until 2.45pm (For seminar dates and venues see the 'Notes to Editor').
For further information or to book a place on one of the workshops phone 0845 600 9006 - this is a Business Links number.
~Ends~
For further information, please contact Jodie Hodge or Paul Jeffries at Tourism
South East on 023 8062 5465/5501 or jhodge@tourismse.com or
pjeffries@tourismse.com
Notes to Editor
Tourism South East is the strategic tourism body for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex.
Business Link is the brand under which the Small Business Service provides a comprehensive range of objective and impartial business information and advice services to small- and medium-sized enterprises in England. Business Links are funded in the south east by the South East England Development Agency.
The seminar dates and venues are as follows:
| PUBS | B&B | |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | Thursday 16th March Burchetts Farm Barn, situated on Stoke Park, London Road, nr Guildford GU1 1SH | Tuesday 21st March Setting up a B&B Chestnut Lodge, Loseley Park, Guildford, Surrey GU3 1HS |
| Berks | Tuesday 14th March Crown & Garter pub, Inkpen Common | Tuesday 7th March Developing your B&B Stirrups Hotel, Maidens Green, Bracknell |
| Bucks | Monday 27th March White Hart Inn, Three Households, Chalfont St Giles HP8 4LP | Tuesday 4th April Developing your B&B Green Park Training Centre, Stablebridge Road, Aston, Clinton HP22 5NE |
| Sussex | Wednesday 22nd March Fontwell Park Racecourse, nr Arundel BN18 0SX Thursday 30th March Boship Farm Hotel, Lower Dicker, Hailsham BN27 4AT | Thursday 9th March Developing your B&B Fontwell Park Racecourse, nr Arundel BN18 0SX Friday 24th March Developing your B&B Boship Farm Hotel, Lower Dicker, Hailsham BN27 4AT |
| Kent | Thursday 23rd March
Chequers Inn, The Broadway, Lamberhurst, TN3 8DB Wednesday 3rd May Dog & Bear, The Square, Lenham, nr Maidstone, ME17 2PG | Wednesday 26th April Developing your B&B Hempstead House, London Road, Bapchild, Sittingbourne ME9 9PP Thursday 27th April Developing your B&B Biggles Bar & Restaurant |
| Hants | Wednesday 29th March
Bourne Valley Inn, St Mary Bourne, Andover SP11 6BT | Tuesday 25th April Developing your B&B Moorhill House Hotel, Burley, Ringwood BH24 4AG |
| Isle of Wight | Friday 10th March
Bugle Inn, High Street, Brading, nr Sandown PO36 0DQ | Thursday 23rd March Developing your B&B Quay Arts Centre, Sea Street, Newport Harbour PO30 5DB |