A MAJOR increase in bookings is boosting turnover for a North Yorkshire indoor bowling club, thanks to assistance from Business Link North Yorkshire.

New Earswick and District Indoor Bowling Club, York, is enjoying a 30 per cent increase in turnover from function room bookings following promotion and marketing advice from Business Link.

The bowling club, which opened in 1993 is used for indoor flat green bowling and, with eight rinks, has one of the biggest playing surfaces in the country.

Tuition is available at the club, which has 1,000 playing members and 600 social members who attend bingo, dominoes, whist and quiz evenings.

There are also a wide range of leagues and competitions.

The club, which recently hosted semi-finals of three of the national team championships, sought help from Business Link because it believed that it could gain more business through improved promotion of its restaurant and function room which can be booked by non-members.

Business Link personal business adviser Carl Hopkins has worked with the club to help create a new eight-page full colour brochure on the function and corporate hospitality facilities, including menus, and to develop new systems to improve financial management.

Stadium manager, Anthony Scruton said: "As well as working with us on improving our signage to the function suite to create greater awareness of it among members and guests, Business Link assisted by sourcing a supplier to prepare a brochure.

"They also advised us on content and how best to use the brochure to market our services to local businesses.

"The restaurant and function room is used for family get-togethers such as weddings, christenings, retirements sand for corporate events and we are delighted that so far this year we have achieved a 30 per cent increase on turnover from bookings.

"We are very pleased with what Business Link has helped us achieve."

Business Link personal business adviser Carl Hopkins says: "This is a case where an organisation with impressive facilities was not marketing itself effectively as it might."

PICTURE: Bowled over: New Earswick Bowling Club stadium manager Anthony Scruton (right) with Business Link North Yorkshire personal business adviser Carl Hopkins at the York bowling club