BUSINESSES in Rugby have been urged to take inspiration from William Webb Ellis by ‘grabbing the ball and running with it’ during the 200th anniversary of rugby football.
Around 80 tourism, hospitality, leisure and retail businesses from across the town and borough attended the Rugby Means Business event at the Benn Hall, organised by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Rugby Borough Council and Shakespeare’s England.
Attendees heard from the Chamber’s Keely Hancox and Russell Grant about the support available for businesses in the borough – from start-ups through to firms looking to access help to grow.
Delegates were then given an insight into the redevelopment plans for the town centre by Rugby Borough Council’s chief officer for growth and investment, Nicola Smith.
She outlined the 27 development projects in the pipeline – with six ‘catalyst’ projects to help move the regeneration programme forward, including Rugby Market, Rounds Gardens and Rugby Central.
There was also an update on some of the events coming to Rugby in the coming months – including rugby bicentenary celebrations and the King’s Coronation.
Vicky Henderson, Rugby School’s 2023 Celebrations events manager, told businesses that they could benefit from the events taking place at the school to celebrate the anniversary.
She said: “Over the coming weeks, we are holding rugby festivals and tournaments with hundreds of young people and their families coming to Rugby. While the matches will be taking place at the school, those families will be looking for other places to visit and places to eat and drink in the evening.
“We are more than happy to promote businesses in the town if they get in touch with us. They need to take inspiration from William Webb Ellis and pick up this ball and run with it as it’s such as good opportunity for the whole town.”
Plans for the Festival on The Close at Rugby School, which will take place from June 25-29, including comedy, music and theatre, were also revealed to the audience.
Keely Hancox said: “Everyone left feeling excited and inspired by some of the events, opportunities and developments coming to Rugby.
“It was also a great opportunity for businesses to hear about the support we can offer at the Chamber and we’d urge them to get in touch so we can help them with their plans for growth over the coming years.
“We also brought together a whole range of partners who are all working together to help the economy of Rugby thrive.”
Email [email protected] for more information on how the Chamber and Project Warwickshire can support businesses and help them capitalise on the activities and events across Rugby.
