2024 was another busy and challenging year as we continued to drive positive action within the scope of our resources.
Highlights…
Our Marketing plan this year included significant digital coverage for the area, Spring Fest campaign, monthly event content, Scotland Loves Local campaign. Hamilton Loves Christmas campaign and new festive website. Our plan continues the use of pro photography provided by Hamilton’s Made In Scotland agency, to capture the town and businesses at their best.
Quarry Street 30min free parking. We’ve been pleased to see that after a challenging start, footfall estimates, and feedback indicate that the road opening trial has supported an increase in footfall year on year.
Footfall increase. The BID area has seen an estimated 100k +2% increase in footfall year on year in 2024 (source Place Informatics based on best info available at the time of publishing)
Events! In 2024, we’ve produced an estimated 37K additional visitors to the area, with Hamilton Market playing a significant role within this visitor number. We’ve been delighted to see our events programme introduced post pandemic become regular features within the town with events such as Hamilton Easter Gala Day, the festive programme and Hamilton Market now embedded as popular well-loved events. It has also been fantastic to collaborate with the likes of BGCP comic con and Lanarkshire Pride to bring well attended new and vibrant events to the area.
Using empty spaces. In 2024 we continued efforts to utilise empty spaces for vibrant events such as the use of the former M&S unit for our Panto and Comic Con, alongside the middle section of the Regent centre for the market.
Community…
We’ve also been delighted to be in a position to provide a range of projects and activities that support the community and in turn town centre visitor experience. Our monthly children’s workshop activities, free event entertainment, free town centre trails and our first ever Christmas Panto using vacant commercial space produced significant community benefit. It has also been great to see the use of our town centre Wi – Fi remains strong attracting over 13k uses of this free service. Our provision of planters across the area and additional festive lighting continues to help the look of the area.
Hamilton Hero! We were also honoured to announce gold medal winner Stephen McGuire, pictured below as our Hamilton Hero 2024. Stephen switched on the town centre Christmas Lights at our rescheduled event on the 30th November 2024.
Collaboration. In addition to our wonderful business community, we continue to work collaboratively through relationships with the likes of Cala Homes (Event Sponsor), South Lanarkshire Council. Regent Shopping Centre, BGCP, Lanarkshire Pride CIC, and Scottish Town’s Partnerships. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our businesses, supporters, sponsors and partners for their support in 2024.
Challenges: We continue our projects at a time of significant change within town and city centres, driven by online sales, economic challenges and a change in shopping behaviours. We’re looking forward to facing into these challenges using the modest resources at our disposal to make a difference where we can and look forward to an exciting year ahead. Thanks for supporting Hamilton in 2024…
