The 2016 Ryde Business Association Annual General Meeting took place last week and resulted in a full change of the committee.
Due to various reasons, this was the first meeting of the year and members were keen to re-energise the Association.
Fresh blood on the committee
Community champion and partner in Wight Trash (skate shop), Zoe Thompson, was voted in as new Chairman.
Although she’s lived in Ryde for the last ten years, Zoe has been involved in community projects across the Island, most recently known for spearheading the Ventnor Skatepark Project.
Other committee members
Rebecca Daley will be the new Vice Chair. She’s a Director of digital marketing agency, Digital Eaze and a past Chairman of the Isle of Wight Ice Dance and Figure Skating Club where she stood for three years helping to raise awareness and support for the club.
Jan Brooks will be the new Secretary. Jan is one of the Directors of Isle Access, a not-for-profit organisation encouraging and promoting access and inclusion on the Island.
The foundation to build a community-hub
Zoe told OnTheWight,
“I’m not a fan of traditional business associations. I think that it’s easy for people to feel excluded or that such organisations only work for a select few. So I thought I would step up in attempt to change this perception.
“I think the RBA can be the foundation to build a strong, community-run hub which allows all businesses in and around the town to contribute ideas, work through issues and support each other.
“I have lived in Ryde for over 10 years, as a town I love it, it really does have something for everyone. We have a large and diverse local community and a great number of visitors. I don’t however feel that we promote all we have to offer enough.”
Aims for the RBA
Zoe sets out her aims for the RBA below.
Enhance the Town through joint working
For a few years now I have taken a keen interest in town regeneration, and how struggling high streets re-establish themselves.Ryde is in a very strong position and thankfully has not faced as near as many struggles as some Island and UK towns. However, the high street economy is a tough market and it is something that needs continued work.
Towns that have been successful at promoting themselves and generating greater year round income, are those who work together and embrace the creative elements of their community. In Ryde we have this in abundance so I would like to create closer joint working between the council, businesses and the arts, music, and creative sectors.
Share Expertise
If you work, live, shop, visit the town then I want your input. This is where the expertise comes from, whether it be an established business or someone setting up for the first time. These are the people who hear more opinions than any survey could ever reveal.I’d like the RBA monthly meetings to be an opportunity for people to share these so we can gain a good understanding for what people like and what they don’t, and consider ways we can improve, update and maintain what we have to offer.
Be Innovative
This is another key essential to keeping towns vibrant and moving forward. Ryde is certainly not the sleepy place full of retirement homes that some, who are not familiar may believe.We need to think outside the box, try new things and be creative.
Promote Ourselves
Successful towns are ones who advertise what they have to offer, both as individual businesses and as a whole community. Our Tourist Information Point is now situated up the pier so I feel that making people aware of what we have in Ryde is even more crucial.I am particularly passionate about supporting small independent businesses. We are lucky to have so many in Ryde, so we will be looking at how best to support these whilst working along side the bigger commercial high street names.
Zoe said,
“I know that we can quickly re-establish the RBA and that people will see that we are taking a slightly different approach to things for the benefit of everyone.
“I am excited about what can be achieved, and am lucky to have the immediate support from the other committee members who are knowledgeable, creative and passionate about the town.”
Next meeting
The first meeting under the new committee is on 4th May from 7pm at The Dorset Hotel.
This meeting will be used as a starting point to get some ideas down and look at prioritising ways to move forward.
Zoe says she’s particularly keen to hear from anyone who may like to get more involved in the steering group, and they are also in need of someone to help with the Treasures role.
If you have any questions or would like further information Zoe can be contacted via email on [email protected]
Image: sidibousaid under CC BY 2.0
