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The West Belfast Traders’ Forum was re-established and constituted earlier this year under careful direction of the West Belfast Partnership Board.
It is made up of local businesses in West Belfast who are determined to strategically approach a wide range of issues they face on a daily business.
The main objective of the Traders’ Forum is to collectively engage with all relevant statutory agencies to enhance the environment in which they do business.
The Traders Forum will look at everything from security and safety, to problems with graffiti, traffic management and refuse collection.
The group has established a number of primary objectives and the “Buy Local” campaign is of primary importance.
Aims and Objectives
Aim:
To raise the profile of businesses in West Belfast
Objectives:
- To develop and deliver a ‘buy local’ programme
- To enhance individual and collective marketing opportunities through digital and printed media
- To identify opportunities for improvements works including shop frontage enhancements.
Aim:
To increase awareness of business opportunities
Objectives:
- To facilitate access to tendering opportunities emanating from central and local government
- To promote business development by facilitating access to skills enhancement initiatives.
Aim:
To enhance access to appropriate statutory contacts
Objectives:
- To facilitate dialogue with relevant statutory bodies on key issues affecting west Belfast traders.
- To provide a forum for discussion of joint business concerns with relevant statutory bodies e.g. cleansing issues, traffic management.
Also:
- Need to agree core principles i.e. what the forum is/what it isn’t/how is works etc.
- Need to prioritise key issues e.g. agree annual work programme
- Work programme may include development work on key issues (done by EDO in-between meetings) and a seminar programme (on key issues e.g. tendering, tax return, banking etc.)
- Need to consider communications in-between meetings – email sufficient?
