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About Us
Visit Knowle is a business led body, formed in May 2019 by a group of volunteers from businesses, community groups and residents. We love where we live and work and strive to help Knowle and its businesses prosper. Our work has been shaped by extensive business surveys and engagement. In June 2020, we became a Company Limited by Guarantee.
Our vision
To sustain the long-term future of Knowle by helping businesses to flourish and by providing a compelling experience for our residents & visitors. In simple terms, we want to raise the bar for our businesses and everybody who visits Knowle.
Visit Knowle work to deliver real improvements to Knowle and to enhance our community spirit in order to provide a brighter future for all. Work centres on four pillars - promoting Knowle and its businesses, street scene improvements, business support and events.
Our aims
Our work
Visit Knowle has four teams focused on a number of projects. Each team is made up of a mix of volunteers from local businesses, residents and community groups and we always welcome new volunteers!
Our teams focus on projects that form part of our Business Plan, a strategy based on input from Visit Knowle members. We’re all passionate about Knowle as a place to live and work and strive to maintain the long term future of Knowle by helping businesses flourish and by providing a compelling experience for our residents & visitors. In simple terms, we want to raise the bar for our businesses and everybody who visits Knowle.
In the last year we’ve delivered:
Marketing
We can be found on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Threads promoting Knowle as a place to visit. Whether you’re visiting for shopping, dining, drinking, beauty, wellbeing, business or heritage, we’ve got it covered. Our marketing team work hard to promote the village - culminating in two Solihull Chamber of Commerce awards for excellent in hospitality and retails & contribution to community.
Our marketing team
- create +900 social media posts per year (we have +6000 Facebook followers and +3900 Instagram followers)
- create blogs for our website and share guest blogs from our members
- curates the content on this website
- invites footfall to Knowle via social media, press releases, networking, events….
- Organised complimentary photoshoots for 48 businesses
- Champions Knowle in Solihull on local tourism forums.
Follow us on @visitknowle on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Take a look at our recent work
Knowle is home to fabulous independent cafes, restaurants and bars.
Our artisan and independent shops are full of hand picked products that they’ll know we’ll love.
Knowle has a strong heart to its community. This is what locals say about Knowle.
Events
Visit Knowle work with other local organisations to bring events to the heart of Knowle - 7 in 2024!
- We campaigned hard to bring back Knowle Party in the Park - a much loved event that is now delivered by the team behind Solihull Summer Fest.
- A popular Spring Ball hosted at Copt Heath Golf Club
- Quiz Night for businesses & residents alike
- A joint Christmas Bash - bringing small businesses together to celebrate the festive season
- Late Night Shopping event
- Heritage Weekend
- Station Road Artisan Market
- Midsummer Celebrations with markets, community stalls, entertainment and street food.
We try and celebrate major events with High Street Celebrations. In 2022, the village came together to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee with an artisan market, entertainment, community stalls and games. In 2023, worked with Knowle Society, Knowle and Dorridge Lions and Love Knowle Park to bring together for the Coronation Celebration on May 8th.
Join us in Knowle to meet fellow businesses during informal networking.
Our networking events run in January, March, May, July, September and November.
Street Scene
We recognise the value of an attractive, well maintained street scene and we’ve worked with other organisations to maintain flower beds and audit furniture, seeking replacement and new furniture and planters as required.
Our street team has:
- delivered 30+ knitted hanging baskets
- Joined a working party agreed to improve the area around the run down bus shelter / old toilets with Knowle Society & Knowle & Dorridge Lions
- Progressed with 'Welcome to Knowle'
- Upgraded the infrastructure for the Christmas lights including upgrading external sockets and installing timers
- Secured Gateway to Knowle NCIL funding
- Discussed progression of Knowle Precinct renovations - we now have ongoing communications between the landlord & Visit Knowle.
In 2022, we introduced an attractive Parklet on the High Street to give people an opportunity to sit and catch up with friends and in 2024 we gained NCIL funding to enhance the "Gateway to Knowle".
Business Support
Visit Knowle are here to support our businesses through a number of projects.
We’ve delivered
- 6+ popular networking events supporting Knowle independent businesses
- Meetings with the Council/ Mayors and our local MP voicing members' concerns.
- WhatsApp group with 100+ business owners.
- Monthly newsletters
- Help and insight into a range of business issues
- Matchmaking interested businesses coming to Knowle to landlords & agents
- Power in numbers - Visit Knowle amplifies your voice
- Social media training
- Signposting businesses to support
- Securing funds for projects to develop the village centre
- Tracking vacancy rates
- Campaigning on the appearance of buildings in Knowle
- Work with Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath Neighbourhood Forum and Knowle Society to understand the current parking provision and needs in the centre of the village. We'll continue to work with these organisations and with Solihull Council to address parking challenges.
We work closely with partner organisations including Solihull Chambers, Solihull for Success, Solihull Council and Visit Solihull to deliver a number of exciting projects for Knowle and our members.
Keep up to Date
You can keep up to date by signing up as a Visit Knowle member.
Blogs
Knowle is derived from the Saxon ‘Cnolle’ which means a small hill. The village is steeped in history, with many Grade II listed buildings. Knowle is now a haven of beautiful independent shops & restaurants, and an up-and coming sought after area to live and work.
What is Peri-Menopausal Hair Loss & Why Does It Happen
Visit Knowle Celebrates Double Win at Solihull Chamber of Commerce Awards
Sun Shines on Station Road Market
