Bread Works rising to the tourism challenge

The organic bakery, whic is run by the Brothers of Charity Service, has joined an exclusive network of VIPs by committing to actively promote the local area and services offered by local businesses.

Bread Works provides placements and work experience to adults with learning disabilities giving hands-on experience in the workplace and is the first social enterprise in the region to sign up to the scheme, joining 35 other VIP quality assured businesses in the Scottish Borders.

The charity will serve as an ambassador for the area to visiting tourists.

Bread Works employment and enterprise manager, Mandy Lowrie, said: “Our staff will have the opportunity to interact with visitors and develop new skills and experiences that will help when they come to find employment. We are proud to display the ‘iKnow’ Scotland accreditation at our centre as recognition of our commitment to providing first-class information about the Borders as a whole.”

The charity recently opened its new Whistle Stop cafe within their Tweedbank premises.

Mandy added: “We are in an ideal location to offer passengers on the Borders Railway the chance to arrive in Tweedbank and make the short journey to our café for a bite to eat and the opportunity to discover the wide range of attractions and events in the local area.

“We are delighted to join the VisitScotland Information Partner (VIP) scheme and to work together to ensure that visitors to the Scottish Borders get access to all the information they need to make the most of their visit.

VisitScotland regional director, Doug Wilson, added: “We are delighted to welcome Bread Works to our VIP programme, the first community initiative to sign up to the scheme.

“VisitScotland’s VIP programme aims to ensure that all tourism providers can be local ambassadors and help provide information, assistance and advice on all there is to see and do here. This follows a growing trend among consumers to use online resources to plan their trips.”