The Falmouth Town Team has scooped the UK & Ireland Best Event recognition for its delivery of the Tall Ships event in 2023 at the national industry awards, conducted by the Association of Town and City Management (ATCM).
The Town Team is the proactive partnership between the Falmouth BID and Falmouth Town Council which has over the past decade, has delivered a host of schemes and support projects. The team is small and headed up by one BID and Town Manager, but the partnerships fostered over the years mean that many ambitious ideas have come to fruition for the benefit of the town.
Falmouth International Tall Ships in August 2023, saw 15 of the most impressive tall ships in the world, arrive in port for three memorable days of exhibitions, opportunities to go on aboard, vibrant shoreside activities, concerts, global goodwill events, cultural exchange programmes, laser displays, parades, crew sports and social engagement schemes, before the ships raced off to the next leg – A Coruna in Spain.
The tall ships are the most spectacular, impressive and largest sailing vessels in the world. Many of these are the classic square-rigged ships of yore with less than 100 in active service anywhere in the world. Falmouth has hosted more tall ships events than any other UK port or destination – six times, while globally, only Lisbon has held it more times (seven).
The challenge to host the event was made all the more difficult because it had to be postponed twice as a result of the pandemic. The Falmouth Town Team had to enable new partnerships, raise funds across three financial years, realign and amend major operational plans and more, in order to get the hosting of the event over the line.
CEO of the Association of Town & City Management (ATCM), Mr Ojay McDonald said: “The work of the Falmouth Town Team consistently continues to hugely impress the ATCM and the judging panel.
“What impresses the most is the fact that the team’s resource and capacity is so modest and yet this in no way deters them from delivering incredible projects that are of national renown. We see initiatives and schemes from all over the UK and this year’s set of entries was the highest standard we have ever received, so for Falmouth to be recognised in this way really is exceptional.
“The town and its business community should be proud of the quality of management support it receives.”
The ‘UK & Ireland Best Event’ is the fifth national award the Falmouth Town Team has won over the past five years. Previously, they secured the ‘Best Digital Project’ honour twice, for the rollout of the free public space Wi-Fi, which was a first for the region.
It also collected an award for the Virtual Sea Shanty Festival delivered during the pandemic, plus two more prestigious awards - the UK’s Best Partnership and UK Inspirational Leader of the Year for BID Executive Director, Richard Wilcox.
Councillor Alan Rowe, Town Mayor of Falmouth said: “This is brilliant news, and I am so proud of the team. I know how hard they work and how committed many people are to make Falmouth an even more attractive place to live, work in or visit.
“Dozens of people gave up their time and expertise to support the team, while 250 or so volunteers engaged with us to enable the Tall Ships event to take place. Locals love Tall Ships and the fact that Falmouth has hosted it six times bears testament to that commitment.”
On receiving the award, Falmouth BID’s Richard Wilcox added: “Vibrant towns and communities are ones that come together for the common good. We have such a strong sense of community and partnership-working in the town, which enables the delivery of a wide-ranging programme from business support to festivals, public realm to lobbying.
“This award is very much a team effort and I’d like to give thanks to the many people and numerous organisations who productively worked together to facilitate the return of the magnificent tall ships to our special coastal community.”