To add vitality, and drive footfall, though marketing and a varied events programme
Driving footfall to the Town Centre is important for a vibrant town where businesses thrive. The BID organises events and activities, as well as promoting Worthing, to entice additional footfall.
Marketing & Advertising
The BID runs regular marketing and promotional activities through Radio, the press, and media to encourage people into the Town Centre. Banners and posters are used in the Town to promote events and encourage people to explore the Town Centre. Social Media has become a key channel for promoting the Town Centre and the number of followers continues to increase; engagement can reach in excess of 30,000 on some posts.
The Town Centre website has been designed to promote what the Town Centre has to offer and every business is included in the business directory at no cost. The business listing is also printed as the Worthing Town Centre Guide and all businesses are included in this unless they opt out and anyone providing 30-40 words and a picture receives an enhance entry free of charge.
Events & Street Activity
The BID team organise and help facilitate events, markets, and other street activity to help animate the Town Centre and add interest and vibrancy. In addition to the larger events street entertainment including singers, dancers, and speciality acts (like Titan the Robot) are also arranged to add value to a visit.
The Current Activities Programme Includes
- Worthing Food & Drink Festival
- Christmas Event / Grotto
- Toy Soldier Trail
- Christmas Tree Trail
- Speciality Markets
- Worthing Urban Beach
Other events have been organised by the BID and some have been taken on by others commercially and others no longer run to allow new ideas to be taken forward. Here are some of the notable events and activities.
- Worthing International Birdman
- Worthing’s real Ice Rink
- Outdoor screen for the Olympic Games
- Summer Fun weekend
- S Club event
- Lasers / Fireworks events
It is important to continue to change the events and activities and to work with other organisers to ensure the Town has a comprehensive and interesting events programme. Worthing is becoming a hub for arts and culture.