On Your Bike....

 

Three of our West End team - Riccardo (Bond Street), Flavio (Oxford Street) and Lisa (Regent Street) recently took part in a sponsored static cycle race as part of the One Great Day event organised by St Christopher's Place.

The event raised funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital, and more than 40 teams representing businesses in the local area took part, raising more than £1500.

While we didn't win, the guys had great fun and may have started a new trend of formal cycling - dumping the lycra for a 3 piece suit!

Congratulations to all who took part and well done Team TWP!

We also set World Records!

 

As well as providing a great welcome and excellent customer service, our Ambassadors also set World Records!

Yesterday on The Northbank, our team made a Guinness World Record Attempt at handshaking!

Diego, Al and Edu all raced down a line of 100 visitors outside The National Gallery to see who could shake hands in the fastest time.  There were strict rules to adhere too, all under the watchful eye of GWR judges.

After a couple of false starts - Edu (below) was proclaimed official champion by completing the run in 1 minute 45 seconds and is now in the record books!

We always knew our people were amazing - now it's official!!

Photography by Mickey Lee courtesy of The Northbank BID.

This is what we do....

So many people come up to us and ask us what we do - we thought it was about time we showed you! Our talented friends at Roll Studio (twitter) followed some of our Ambassadors around the streets of London with a camera a couple of months ago, as they went about their daily tasks on behalf of our clients.

https://vimeo.com/87491531

We hope you enjoy it.

Is there a Doctor in the house?

The crowds gathered recently in London's Strand to meet former Doctor Who star Tom Baker who was signing copies of a new book featuring his adventures as the world-famous Time Lord. Our Northbank Ambassador Diego, stepped into The Tardis (well the Stamp Centre at 79 Strand actually) to meet the Doctor and help him with some directions to his next signing.

Oxford Street Turns Blue

The New Year brought a smart new look to our Oxford Street team. Here's Charlie modelling our new livery (and new information point).  It was a cold day, but we're pleased to say Charlie didn't turn as blue as his tie!

Look out for Charlie and the rest of our team who patrol the length of Oxford Street seven days a week.  In the last twelve months, the team welcomed more than 500,000 visitors.

We have two fixed information points on Oxford Street (at the junction of South Molton Street and at the junction of Argyll Street), so you're never far away from expert advice and information.

The Party People!

Last Friday was our annual staff party, when 60 of the team got together at Kettners in Soho to celebrate. It's also traditionally the time of year when we hand out awards to staff and this year was no exception.

The evening culminated in our Team of Year and Employee of the Year awards.

First off the rank was Team of the Year (small team) which was awarded to inMidtown

left to right standing - Aldo (Supervisor), Greig, Linda and Gosia (holding the award)

Next up was Team of the Year (large team) which was awarded to Victoria ....

Left to right - Luis, Hamid, Barry, Barbara, David H, Caterina and Tom (Supervisor)

Finally, Employee of the Year, which this year went to Lisa Petersen, seen below collecting her award.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

As 13 turns to 14, it's time to look back on a year of great achievements for The Welcome People.

We grew from 3 sites to 11, from just under 30 staff to nearly 70.  We saw our 2 millionth customer, made more than 50,000 business calls on behalf of our clients, shed a few tears but had lots of laughs along the way.

To our clients, suppliers and fabulous staff - thank you all - here's to an even better 2014!

Happy New Year from all The Welcome People....

Mark, Annalissa, Tom, Aldo, Barry, Jose, Paolo C, I Shan, Husna, Claire, Antonio, Rachel, Eduardo, Kathy, Hayley, David H, David I, Tony, Ross, Barbara, Abdel, Linda, Rukije, Lisa, Hamid, Luciana, Mara, Gosia, Geraint, Elena, Amparo, Lydia, Hany, Luis, Serena, Cliff, Riccardo, Katerine, Holly, Guy, Matt, Jessica, Mariano, Flavio, Chris, Sandra, Savlatore, Alhoussein, Emma, Kar-Hin, Fabio, Pawel, Mike, Charlie, Diego, Nicholas, Paolo A, Greig, Francesco, Andreea, William,  Andrea, Alexander,  Mel, Max, Sofia, Gabriel, Calvin and David M.

Christmas Cheer Starts Here - part two

Last night, the stars came out for the annual Oxford Street Christmas Lights switch on.

Jessie J performed in front of an excited crowd outside Selfridges, before throwing the switch on a brand new million pound lighting scheme.

The result was spectacular in its simplicity.  Stunning white spheres fill the sky above the millions of shoppers expected to visit London's West End before the big day itself.

Let the festivities begin!

Christmas Cheer Starts Here ..... part one

 

It's that time of year again, when the Christmas Lights start twinkling (well almost).

In preparation for the great switch-on in Oxford Street tonight, our information kiosks along the street have been re-branded in stylish black and silver.

Join Mara (above) and all our team on Oxford Street for the fun and festivities - tonight, just after 6pm.

A Note of Thanks...

Since we started back in 2011, we've actively encouraged feedback from customers we meet on the street. More often than not, the feedback comes in the form of an email with a photo attached, which we try and put up on our 'photos from friends' page.

However, we thought you might like to see just a few of the photo's here.  Below are just   a small selection we received during October from customers in Oxford Street, Victoria, Sloane Street and Manchester.

Keep them coming in - we love to hear from you!

Flavio and Friend(s) in Oxford Street

Lydia in Oxford Street

Luis and his fans at Victoria

Kar-Hin in Sloane Street

and finally Katerine in Manchester

Vintage Regent Street

Time stood still on Regent Street yesterday for the annual vintage car rally ahead of the London to Brighton run. The crowds braved the weather to view more than a hundred classic vehicles on display all the way down Regent Street in central London

Pictured below is Rukije from our Regent Street team test-driving her new motor!

Carry on Shopping!

National treasure Barbara Windsor came up West on Friday and spotted both of our Bond Street Beadles while she was shopping. Hany and Serena were more than happy to help with advice and directions.

A Big Welcome to The Northbank

Big smiles all round from our Northbank team! After a successful month-long trial in the summer, we're back and are now a permanent feature of The Northbank BID area, covering Strand, Aldwych and Trafalgar Square.

Pictured above from left to right, Ross (Supervisor), Mike, Annika, Salvatore, Alhussein and Jose (Deputy Supervisor).  Missing from the picture are Christine and Pawel.

The team are based at Somerset House.  We look forward to welcoming you!

Cambridge Gold!

Just three months after launching, our brilliant team of Cambridge Ambassadors have scooped a gold award for customer service. Holly, Matt, Sandra, Jessica and Guy (not in the picture) were independently mystery-shopped as part of the Cambridge BID Awards annual survey which recognises great customer service among the city centre's 1100 businesses.

The Awards ceremony took place at the historic Downing College in Cambridge earlier this month.

Congratulations Guys - you did us proud!

We Dig this City!

It's been a busy ten days in Manchester as our team of City Hosts helped promote the Heart of Manchester initiative Dig the City. Colourful displays of all things horticultural dominated the city centre, including show gardens, flower and vegetable displays, living sculptures and plenty of places to chill out and relax.

Pictured below is Claire, one of our fabulous City Hosts, talking to a customer just by one of the amazing balloon sculptures.

For more photos of the event click here

Cambridge Blues.....and greens.....and pinks.....

Last week The Welcome People arrived in the beautiful city of Cambridge. As one of the first high-profile projects launched by the new Cambridge BID, our team of six Ambassadors hit the streets of the famous University City following an intensive week-long training programme.

Lead by our Supervisor Holly (seen here with fellow Ambassador Matt), the team are fast making friends with locals and visitors alike.

A West of England Welcome!

It's been a busy week here at The Welcome People. On Monday we launched a team of Ambassadors in Bond Street, London.  Today came the turn of Bristol.

We're working with Bristol Broadmead - the Business Improvement District for the Bristol Shopping Quarter, who are about to ballot their Members for a third term.  We'll be in the area for the next month, welcoming locals and visitors to the lively city centre.

We've had a great response so far - even Gromit was pleased to see us!

Our Learning & Development Manager, David Iles, with Ana and Luke, our Bristol Ambassadors.

Gromit has been cloned and is one of many currently adorning the centre of Bristol as part of 'Gromit Unleashed' - promoting the great visitor attractions in the city while raising funds for the Bristol Children's Hospital.

At the heart of Luxury London

On Monday we launched our new team of Ambassadors in London's Bond Street. Hany, Serena and Matt (pictured below with a couple of local residents), are part of a new initiative being delivered by the Bond Street Development Group, part of New West End Company.

The team will be in place 7 days a week to offer help and advice to visitors and businesses along the famous street renowned for luxury fashion boutiques, fine jewellery and art.

Loving Cambridge

 

We're currently recruiting for staff to join us in Cambridge, following our appointment by the new Cambridge Business Improvement District (BID) to run their visitor welcome programme.

We're really excited to be opening in this beautiful city - our third base outside London, along with Manchester and Bristol.

If you'd like to be part of  The Welcome People, click here for more details about the role and how to apply.

Strutting our Stuff!

Earlier today, the much anticipated sequel to 'The Devil Wears Prada' made it's debut in London's South Molton Street. 'Revenge Wears Prada' was launched with a Stiletto Strut hosted by Capital FM DJ Lisa Snowdon.  On hand were two of our Ambassadors, Naomi and Lisa (pictured below with author Lauren Weisberger (on the right holding the little yellow shoes).

Despite the rain, the event was a lot of fun - although we guess there may have been a few sore feet at the end of the day!