New app launched to benefit Swansea residents and businesses

Funded by Swansea Council and run by Swansea Business Improvement District (BID), the Big Heart of Swansea app is now available to install for free on mobile devices from app.bigheartofswansea.co.uk

The new app replaces the old Big Heart of Swansea app.

As well as access to exclusive offers for Swansea residents, the app also includes a searchable directory of city centre businesses, along with their opening hours, locations and directions to get to them. More offers from city centre businesses will be added to the app in the coming weeks and months.

Other features of the app include a dining out section that people can use to search for restaurants according to their food preference.

A what’s on guide also features, which will be kept updated over time with gigs and other events taking place in the city centre.

The app is also linked to the new city centre loyalty card scheme that enables residents to build up points for shopping in participating businesses, with the chance to win a monthly prize.

To show they live in Swansea and get access to the offers on the app, residents can create an account by heading for the app’s log-in page via the menu. They will then be asked for an email address, to create a password and to submit their Swansea postcode.

For most council-run car parks in the city centre, you’ll pay no more than £5 for a full day – and only £1 an hour for up to five hours. Parking information will be added to the app in due course.

Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “We’re delighted to be working in close partnership with Swansea BID on this new app, which complements everything we’re already doing to support residents and businesses.

“Swansea city centre is vitally important not just because it’s a driver of the local and regional economies but also because of the many thousands of local people employed there.”

Cllr Andrea Lewis, Swansea Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Service Transformation, said: “From restaurants and retail to live music gigs and other events, there’s always so much going on in Swansea city centre, but what’s missing is a one-stop-shop where Swansea people can access all the information they’ll need on their phones or tablets while on the move.

“This dedicated app will help meet that need while also exclusively benefiting Swansea residents and Swansea businesses because of the discounts and offers on the app – more of which will be added in the coming weeks and months – as well as the extra city centre spending the app is aimed at helping encourage.”

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism, said; “The availability of the app builds on a campaign we’ve recently launched called Enjoy Your City Centre, which is aimed at raising awareness of our fantastic city centre businesses – from shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes to cultural venues, activity providers and professional services providers.

“As a council, we’re doing all we can to support our city centre, with a £1bn regeneration programme ongoing to help encourage more people to enjoy, live, work and study there. This is key if we’re to create more footfall there for the benefit of our traders, while helping attract even more investment and jobs in future too.”

Andrew Douglas, of Swansea BID, said: “There are more than 900 businesses in the Swansea BID area, so this app will raise awareness of them while also raising the profile of all the city centre has to offer.

“It’s part of an on-going drive to make Swansea a smarter city, and while the app offers so many interactive features for users already, we look forward to introducing even more as time goes on.

“We are excited to see the immediate benefits to local businesses too, as the app becomes a way for them to communicate their offers, events and opening hours to potential customers.”

Other features of the app include the locations of defibrillators in the city centre and the chance to buy city centre gift cards for friends or family.

Further development of the app in future could see features like notifications included. QR codes could also be added to historic city centre buildings, enabling city centre visitors to scan them and learn about their heritage.

Step-by-step guide: Installing and benefiting from the app

• Step 1: Visit app.bigheartofswansea.co.uk on your mobile device.
• Step 2: Hit the ‘Install App’ button on the app’s home screen. The app will then be saved to your mobile device.
• Step 3: To show you live in Swansea and get access to the offers on the app, you can create an account by heading for the app’s log-in page via the menu. You’ll then be asked for an email address, to create a password and to submit your Swansea postcode.