A NEW gift card which can be spent across a raft of Colchester businesses is being launched to boost the town's recovery from Covid.

Our Colchester Business Improvement District (BID) is launching the Colchester Gift Card in August.

It will be available to spend at participating businesses in the town centre, everything from gift shops to hair salons.

Sold via the InColchester website, consumer brand of the BID, the gift card is the first of its kind for Colchester as well as for Essex.

Before the launch the BID is opening a tender process for Colchester-based creatives to design the new card.

The group is looking for a design which represents the offering available in the town centre as well as being instantly recognisable as being related to Colchester.

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BID manager Sam Good said: "We’re excited to work with the talented creative sector that Colchester has for the creation of this gift card.

"We're extremely fortunate to have such a varied and unique offering in the town centre, from the great independents to the active arts and culture scene, and rich heritage.

"This is a great opportunity for the creative sector to work with the BID and promote Colchester through the design and creation of this gift card.

"We are looking for creative professionals to submit an outline design which considers the unique offerings, heritage, and culture that the town centre holds by May 18.

"Its key that the gift card can be easily recognised as the Colchester Gift Card from the design.

"To continue the celebration and support of our area this tender is open to those in the Colchester borough only.”

The gift card is part of the BID's recovery strategy for the town centre following the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

It is hoped it will bring additional spending into the town centre and therefore boost the local economy.

For more information or to learn more about having your design on the card, visit https://ourcolchester.co.uk/gift-card-tender.