Say hello to Exeter’s Welcome Team

Exeter’s brand new Welcome Team took to the city’s streets on Monday (14 December).

The initiative, which has proven successful in other cities across the UK has been launched and funded by Exeter Business Improvement District (Exeter BID), and brings to Exeter a skilled team of Welcome People to help shoppers and tourists make the most of their time in the city by assisting visitors, monitoring the city environment and working with the businesses across the BID area.

Similar teams can be found throughout London and in Manchester, Birmingham, Canterbury, Chester and Cambridge.

Just in time for the Christmas rush, the team, Myra, Darren and Despina, will be easy to spot, sporting bowler hats and suits.

Over 40 applications were received to join the team with three local people being selected to fulfil the roles.  Since then the team have undergone extensive training in topics, including customer service, technical training orientation and street management services.
Street management services include day to day monitoring of the city centre and reporting any identified or potential problems.  Each team member will be equipped to log issues on the spot and report them to the relevant authority or business. 

The team members will also be key points of contact for BID business levy payers, with each being assigned around 200 businesses to liaise with on a regular basis.  Introductory tours of the businesses will begin in the New Year.

Craig Bulley, CEO of Exeter BID Company says, “After seeing the success of similar schemes in other thriving cities it felt only right that Exeter should have its own Welcome Team. The team will benefit visitors as well as businesses and organisations in the BID area.

Having Myra, Darren and Despina as our eyes and ears means we can work together to improve the visitor’s experience of the city, making sure that Exeter shines as a top retail destination.”

The Exeter Welcome team are covering core opening hours, seven days a week.