Business Improvement Districts convene to tackle defining high street challenges
Business Improvement Districts representing towns and cities around the UK have joined together to form influential working groups that tackle key issues in town and city centres.
Representatives from 34 BIDs have formed four working groups that will meet regularly throughout the year and also host an annual open meeting to allow a broad engagement with each group’s assigned policy area. The four new groups will tackle Net Zero and Environmental Sustainability, Place Marketing, Safe and Secure, and Public Realm, respectively.
Each Working Group has been formed in collaboration with The BID Foundation and includes membership from a broad range of BID leaders, from core UK cities to inner city London, and regional locations to coastal towns.
The group members represent over 10% of the UKs Business Improvement Districts by number. In addition to delivering their own unique programmes to activate and support their own BID areas, each member is an established place partnership with intelligence on local issues and best practice to share.
Coordination to activate and respond to high streets
Responding to the first meetings of the Net Zero, Place Marketing and Safe and Secure groups, Prof Cathy Parker MBE, Chair of the Institute of Place Management, said:
“As the professional body for place managers, IPM has been championing BIDs for over 5 years as they bring so much coordination and vital work to activate their high streets. These new working groups show the value of BIDs' established partnerships – not just with businesses, but local government, communities and a range of other partnerships.”
“What we’ve seen as BIDs have grown since their introduction, is the value of having professional place management in many locations, those teams on the ground that know how towns and cities are evolving and what these areas need.’
New Working Groups
The BID working groups are chaired by representatives from four BIDs leading in their respective working group themes:
- Net Zero and Environmental Sustainability – Chaired by Jack Skillen FIPM, Placeshaping Director, Team London Bridge
- Place Marketing – Chaired by Harrie Notton AIPM, Head of Marketing and Strategy, WeAreWaterloo
- Public Realm – Chaired by Stephanie Kerr FIPM, Chief Executive, BID Leamington
- Safe and Secure – Chaired by Jonathan Newman MIPM, BID Manager, Great Yarmouth Town Centre Partnership
The Net Zero, Place Marketing and Public Realm working groups have already met earlier this month, to share priorities and set the agenda for each group over the next 12 months. The Public Realm working group is set to meet before the end of September.
The Net Zero and Environmental Sustainability group’s first meeting discussed the funding landscape for local environmental projects, including many schemes that BIDs are currently accessing to deliver work. While there is great opportunity from funds like UKSPF, Section106, and the EU, a common issue can be the continuity of funds available to continue progress. A range of these local projects were discussed, from solar farm feasibility studies to carbon footprint measure, and significant infrastructure such as BID freight consolidation through the provision of warehousing and ‘last leg’ bike delivery services.
The Safe and Secure working group reflected on the current focus on town and city centre security given a rise in shoplifting and widespread media reports over the summer of some high profile antisocial behaviour incidents in large city centres. Despite the challenges, BIDs continue to support businesses with a number of sophisticated projects, from established business crime reduction partnerships, to new ACT training on counter terrorism, and business continuity planning. Safe and secure streets require significant coordination between local stakeholders, which BIDs excel at, but also depend on positive messaging from marketing campaigns and the experience which people have when visiting the location.
The Place Marketing working group shared insights on the latest techniques for promoting places and prioritising engagement with the local character of a place. Group Chair, Harrie Notton, shared details of WeAreWaterloo’s work on TikTok with community ambassadors, as part of their local marketing strategy. There is a huge array of local assets that BIDs represent across this group, from the City of Arcades in Cardiff, to Rochdale and its recent Town Hall and riverside redevelopment, and BIDs are showing leadership in helping locations capitalise on these to drive footfall and spend in local businesses.
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The four working groups will continue to meet into 2024 on a quarterly basis. For more information contact Rachel Nickeas on r.nickeas@mmu.ac.uk
Working Group members:
Place Marketing
WeAreWaterloo
Norwich BID
Vauxhall One
York BID
Bristol City Centre BID
InExeter
Rochdale BID
Shrewsbury BID
FOR Cardiff
Team London Bridge
Brixton BID
InSteatham
Liverpool BID Company
Baker Street Quarter
Altrincham BID
Net Zero and Environmental Sustainability
WeAreWaterloo
Redcliffe and Temple BID
Norwich BID
Love Wimbledon
Liverpool BID Company
City Co / Manchester BID
Team London Bridge
Better Bankside
Positively Putney
Colmore BID
For Cardiff
Public Realm
Redcliffe and Temple BID
Ipswich Central
York BID
InExeter
Better Bankside
Knightsbridge Partnership
Colmore BID
Liverpool BID Company
Baker Street Quarter
Altrincham BID
Safe and Secure
Great Yarmouth Town Centre Partnership
Bristol City Centre BID
Norwich BID
Leeds BID
Ipswich Central
Worcester BID
Colmore BID
Bath BID
Marble Arch London BID
WeAreWaterloo
North Notts BID
Skipton BID
Better Bankside
Swansea BID