18 NOVEMBER 2008 NEWS RELEASE No: 12046

Businesses across Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders are being urged to get on board the 7stanes business bus to find out how to boost business.

Over £9m is being spent annually by 400,000 visitors to the 7stanes mountain bike trails in the south of Scotland. The pioneering business bus is designed to ensure businesses can benefit from this growing mountain bike market.

The specialist business bus will offer expert advice from Business Gateway, VisitScotland, and members of the 7stanes team. A web advisor from Scottish Enterprise will also be available at the Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Peebles locations (for a full list of venues see table below).

The bus – which is kitted out with catering and meeting facilities - will also provide a networking opportunity for businesses to share their experiences of the 7stanes market.

Alice Blazy-Winning for the 7stanes said:

“The increasing number of visitors to the 7stanes provides fantastic opportunities for local businesses to offer services or goods which appeal to mountain bikers and their families.

“We hope that using the bus to take our advisers out into the local communities will make it easier for business people to meet up with us and find out more.”

As an added incentive, everyone who visits the bus can pick up one of the free business development packs and be in with the chance of winning £1,000 worth of marketing advice from The BIG Partnership – one of the UK’s leading marketing and communications consultancies.

Mark Ball of the Conifers Leisure Park, located near the 7stanes Kirroughtree trail, said:

“We’ve seen a serious increase in the number of mountain bikers staying with us since we got involved with the 7stanes and far more than we anticipated.

“We offer quality accommodation, bike-focused facilities and generally go out of our way to look after them and make them feel welcome which has helped bring a lot of repeat business.”

Rob Gray, who recently opened the Ae Bike Shop and Cafe at 7stanes Ae trail, said:

“We were busy right away and we’re still seeing a steady stream of business, despite the winter closing in. We will soon be opening the cafe as a restaurant on certain evenings as well.

“More and more people are getting into mountain biking and finding out about the 7stanes, which has a fantastic set-up. There are opportunities for lots of businesses and, if people see a chance, they should take it.”

Kate Innes of the Tontine Hotel in Peebles, near the 7stanes Glentress trails, said:

“One of our growing customer sectors is mountain bikers. They remain passionate about their biking breaks, often coming in groups of anything from three to 20 bikers and are not often put off by bad weather, booking weekend stays with us even in the traditionally quieter months of November through to March.”

Allan Elliot of Scottish Enterprise, said:

“Scottish Enterprise supports businesses to achieve their full potential in a regional, national and international context. The increasing popularity of the 7stanes represents an excellent opportunity for local businesses to develop goods and services which would appeal to these visitors."

For more information on the bus or to find out how your business can benefit contact Alice Blazy-Winning, 7stanes Development Co-ordinator, on 01387 272440.

The 7stanes business bus is sponsored by Dumfries and Galloway Council and Scottish Enterprise.

Notes to editors:

The 7stanes project is being managed by Forestry Commission Scotland with partners Scottish Enterprise, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Borders Council, Solway Heritage and VisitScotland. For more information on the project and where to ride, log on to www.7stanes.gov.uk

Day Time Location
Monday 24th November 10am -12pm Stranraer – Morrisons car park
1 - 3pm Newton Stewart – River car park
4 – 6pm Gatehouse of Fleet – Town car park

Tuesday 25th November 10am – 12pm Kirkcudbright – Visitor Centre car park
1 - 3pm Castle Douglas – Market Hill car park
4 - 6pm Dalbeattie – Youth Centre car park

Wednesday 26th November 10 - 1pm Dumfries – Town centre by fountain
2 - 4pm Moffat – car park opposite town hall

Thursday 27th November 10am – 1pm Peebles – Kings Meadows car park
2 - 3pm Innerleithen – Hall Street car park
4 - 6pm Selkirk – Leisure Centre car park

Friday 28th November 10am – 12pm Hawick – Common Haugh car park
1 - 3pm Langholm – River car park
4 - 6pm Newcastleton – Douglas Square

For media enquiries contact:
Claire Martin, Forestry Commission Scotland press office, tel: 0131 314 6506
Alice Blazy-Winning, 7stanes, tel: 01387 272440