The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset Issue 10: Winter 2018/19 | Page 4

BUSINESS NEWS Bishop Fleming announced as official title sponsor for the 2019 Bath Half Marathon The organisers of the Bath Half Marathon have announced Bishop Fleming, one of the UK’s leading accountancy firms as the official title sponsor of the 2019 event. Bishop Fleming, which is based in the South West and West Midlands, delivers audit, accounting, tax, advisory and wealth services to SMEs, owner- managed businesses, large corporate organisations, charities, schools and individuals, across a wide range of sectors. The partnership with the Bath Half coincides with Bishop Fleming’s centenary year and is the first of a series of major initiatives and activities, which the firm plans to deliver throughout 2019 to mark this unique milestone. To coincide with the centenary, the firm has also pledged to raise £100,000 for several regional charities throughout 2019 by encouraging its people to take part in many activities. These activities include a centenary running series taking on respective 5K, 10K and other half marathons across Bishop Fleming’s seven offices, which the Bath Half will now spearhead. This initiative, set up by its own employees, builds on a successful wellbeing campaign in the firm during 2018. Bishop Fleming’s managing partner, Andrew Sandiford said: “As a leading Bath-based business ourselves, we are thrilled to announce our support for the Bath Half as a demonstration of our commitment to supporting the region and the communities that sustain us. In 2019 we will enter our centenary year having made a significant charitable pledge, so it is entirely fitting that we have chosen the Bath Half - the largest charity fundraising event in the South West region to kick-start our fundraising campaign”. The Bath Half Marathon takes place on Sunday March 17 2019 with public entries having already 4 “The Bath Half not only provides a fabulous fundraising opportunity but a great way to bind the relationship between our people and our clients” sold out for the 20th consecutive year. The race is one of the longest established and most popular city centre road events in the UK, taking in a two lap 13.1- mile (21.1km) traffic-free course straddling both sides of the River Avon. Andrew Taylor, race director for the Bath Half said: “We are delighted to welcome Bishop Fleming as our title sponsor for the 2019 Bath Half Marathon. They have had a number of staff participating in the Bath Half for several years, and we are pleased they have chosen the Bath Half as the centrepiece of their 2019 fundraising activity promoting their centenary celebrations. We are very grateful for the support of such a prestigious local company and we look forward to working with the team over the coming months.” Andrew Sandiford added:“The Bath Half not only provides a fabulous fundraising opportunity but a great way to bind the relationship between our people and our clients, and it is this THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2018 that sets our firm apart. We look forward to bringing a team of 100 runners to take part in what promises to be a fantastic event”. Bishop Fleming is a Top 30 accountancy firm in the UK. The firm is currently 26th in the Sunday Times Top 100 Best Companies To Work For rankings and the highest placed professional services firm in the South West. It has recently been awarded Gold status by Investor in Customers in its latest survey of clients and people. 2018 ROUND-UP FROM VISIT BATH Leslie Redwood, Head of Business Development and Partnerships at Visit Bath. As 2018 draws to a close it is customary to review the substantial progress we have made this year and look forward to 2019 with energy, vibrancy and hope for more success for Bath and region. As many of you are aware, we have been through substantial change at Visit Bath. We are coming up to a year in our new premises on Terrace Walk– our new Visitor Information Centre continues to do well, and our new office location has delivered substantial savings and much more efficient ways of working, as we had always planned. Our membership offering is under review and our Bath Box Office and online retail offer is also being revitalised. We now have a new marketing team in place and numerous campaigns are rolling out across the year with Visit Bath delivering more co-ordinated city and region-wide campaigns than ever before – along with our amazingly successful new video, website and social media activity, which has delivered extremely impressive results for the city and region in 2018. There is a new management team in place – focussed on a new strategic commercial direction for the company and an increasingly efficient way of working and delivery for the city and beyond. The team are working hard to become the marketing agency for the city and all of its offering – including our buoyant professional services, creative and tech sectors. Of course – we cannot ignore our incredible Bath Christmas Market – bringing in over 400,000 people and £29 Million into the region over 18 days – with our increased footprint to support and enhance Milsom Street for the first time this year. On the partnerships side our key GWR Rail and West of England Combined Authority (WECA) partnerships go from strength to strength and we are working on new citywide events for Bath and its surrounds – as well as continuing to enhance and support our Bath Comedy Festival and Bath Boules charity partnerships. We are also always searching for new strategic partners for our continuing roll out of marketing campaigns and events. Finally, we look forward to 2019 to continue our citywide marketing campaigns and events, enhanced digital activity – including a potential new app, and exciting new citywide Wi-Fi partnership, and reinvigorated membership, retailing and ticketing offer. Come and join us to find out more! Seasons greetings to all and the very best of luck for 2019. [email protected]