Business Action | Spring 2022
Spring 2022 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news on business and enterprise in the area. This issue includes profiles of the finalists in our North Devon Business Awards 2022, features on the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere, business support programmes and more.
Spring 2022 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news on business and enterprise in the area. This issue includes profiles of the finalists in our North Devon Business Awards 2022, features on the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere, business support programmes and more.
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ENTERPRISE HEADER<br />
New festival promotes responsible tourism<br />
1.Howwellwillthefestivalfit<br />
withWoolacombe?<br />
“Thespiritofthefestivalisvery<br />
muchinethoswiththetown<br />
andlocalarea–iesurfing,van<br />
culture,skating,natureandthe<br />
greatoutdoors.Sointhose<br />
regards,it’saverynaturalfit,<br />
butthere’savarietyof<br />
importantconsiderationshere.<br />
Wehavebeenliaisingwiththe<br />
localcommunitytoensurethat<br />
thefestivalfitisaspositiveasit<br />
canbeforthecommunity,<br />
visitors,localbusinessesand,of<br />
course,thelocalinfrastructure,<br />
payingparticularattentionto<br />
theroadnetworks.<br />
Woolacombehadahuge<br />
amountofvisitorslastyear<br />
withtheboomofthestaycation<br />
afterCOVID,andthewhole<br />
NorthDevonareasawahuge<br />
numberofpop-upcampsites<br />
springup,whichalsoaddedto<br />
theinfrastructurepressuresfor<br />
thedurationofthesummer.All<br />
oftheseconsiderationshave<br />
beentakenintoaccountwith<br />
oureventplanning,ourtraffic<br />
managementplan,andour<br />
ecologicalreporting,whichwe<br />
The Wavelength <strong>Spring</strong> Classic is a new festival scheduled for 27-30<br />
May in Woolacombe, featuring surf, music, skate, nature and ride<br />
culture. With demand for holidays in the area soaring and pressures<br />
on the environment and economy increasing, editor Robert Zarywacz<br />
questioned festival director Linley Lewis on the event’s sustainability<br />
areconfidentarerobustforthe<br />
benefitofthelocal<br />
environment,community,<br />
visitorsandbusinesses.”<br />
2.Wherewillthestaffforthe<br />
festivalcomefrom?<br />
“We’rehiringarangeoflocal<br />
staff,andtherearearangeof<br />
rolesavailable.Sinceannouncing<br />
theevent,it’sbeenamazing<br />
howmanypeoplehavecome<br />
forwardfromthelocal<br />
communitywithabroadrange<br />
ofeventexperience.For<br />
example,wehavehiredour<br />
‘gatemanager’,whoisalocal<br />
residentandwillbemanaging<br />
hisownteamentirelyfromthe<br />
localcommunity.Astheevent<br />
communicationshave<br />
developedandthe‘wordhas<br />
gotout’,moreandmorepeople<br />
havebeencomingforward<br />
pitchingtheirservices,beit<br />
suppliers,orstaff,andthisis<br />
verymuchsomethingthatwe<br />
arelookingtoweaveintothe<br />
fabricoftheevent.<br />
Wewillbeemployingupto<br />
80staffonsite,andcurrently<br />
havecirca50ofsuchconfirmed<br />
aslocal,which–whenyou<br />
considertheadditionallocal<br />
suppliers–addsuptoalarge<br />
additionallocalimpact.”<br />
3.Whatwilllocalbusinesses<br />
gainfromthefestival?<br />
“There’sasplitforthelocal<br />
businesses.Therewillbe<br />
consumerspend,andtherewill<br />
alsobeeventspend.<br />
OntheSaturdayandSunday<br />
oftheevent,weare<br />
encouraginggueststovisitthe<br />
village,andwatchthesurf<br />
competitionwhichisbeing<br />
helddownonCombesgate<br />
beach.Weanticipatethese<br />
guestsspendinginthelocal<br />
shops,barsandrestaurants.<br />
Toencouragethis<br />
movement,wewillalsobe<br />
puttingonashuttlebusto<br />
connecttheeventsitewiththe<br />
village,anditisonlya30-<br />
minutewalk(alongabeautiful<br />
NationalTrustpermissive<br />
footpath)fromthesitedownto<br />
thebeach.It’sreasonableto<br />
expect20%ofvisitorstovisit<br />
thevillage,withanaverage<br />
spendof£15pplocallyperday<br />
(alargeportionofwhichwould<br />
arrivebyfootdirectlyfromthe<br />
site).Thiswouldbe1,000<br />
peopleperday,andequateto<br />
£30,000spentlocally.<br />
Asforgeneraleventspend<br />
andeconomyinjector,weare<br />
expectingtospend£250,000<br />
withintheSouthWest,£50,000<br />
withinNorthDevon,and<br />
£30,000withinWoolacombe.<br />
Wearealsopledging1%of<br />
allticketsalerevenuetolocal<br />
charitiesandprojects.”<br />
■ TheWavelength<strong>Spring</strong><br />
Classic,runningfrom27to30<br />
May<strong>2022</strong>atWoolacombeBay,<br />
isafamily-friendlyevent<br />
featuringsurfing,music,<br />
nature,culture,campingand<br />
more.Bookticketsat<br />
springclassic.co.uk<br />
6 business action | <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2022</strong> | business-action.co.uk