October 2024 marks 20 years since the anniversary of the first business improvement district pilot, with £1bn invested in local services and events to improve towns and cities for communities and business.
20 BIDS were formed with the original pilot in 2003 and then brought into law with the UK regulations act the following year. Using a model from Canada, Business Improvement Districts allowed for businesses to have access to additional services, like street cleaning, improving the environment and public realm, or events and activity to increase footfall and animation.
The number of BIDs has now grown to over 340, with BIDs appearing in all four nations of the UK. A business improvement district is a defined area of a town or city where a levy is charged on all eligible business rate payers. BID levies are voted for via a ballot which takes place every five years.
Currently, BIDs invest £152m in local economies across the country, helping to support investment in towns and cities at a time when public sector funding has been impacted by budget cuts across a range of departments.
BID services day to day include marketing and promotion, street cleaning, safe & secure programmes, training, connecting businesses and networking. But BIDs increasingly create spectacle and organise events and projects enhancing the lives of those living in local communities.
Case Studies
For 20 years of BIDs, here is a list of 20 different BID projects having an impact in their towns and cities.
Brixton Orchard
Brixton BID created Brixton Orchard in 2016, a new community orchard designed to make use of forgotten land and to provide greening and better quality air on one of the most polluted roads in the capital.
Bristol Light Festival
Redcliffe and Temple BID supports the city’s annual ten day Bristol Light festival, working alongside Bristol City Centre BID. Held each February the festival fills the city with light and colour.
Competative Business Litterpick
Part of the work of BIDs is to encourage business engagement in the local community. Canterbury BID’s competative business litterpicks see local firms help to keep the city clean and tidy, encourage networking and the prize is a Canterbury Gift Card, encouraging footfall and spend in the city.
Winter Lights
York BID’s Winter Lights illuminates historic buildings, trees and lamp posts across York, with garlands, drop lights and solar powered Christmas trees. York is regularly voted the UK’s most festive city.
Carnival of the World
Reading BID worked with CultureMix to bring EKO the Sea Giant to Reading as part of the Carnival of the World celebrations in Summer 2022. EKO is a nationally renowned travelling theatre group putting on events across the country.
Trooping the Corgis
To celebrate the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in June, Altrincham BID and Inch Arts produced Altrincham’s largest town wide art event – ‘Trooping the Corgis’. The parading troop of fifty life-sized corgi sculptures, which were decorated by different artists, community groups and schools, were on guard throughout June and were displayed in the windows and foyers of shops and businesses around the town. After the exhibition the Corgis were auctioned to raise funds for community art projects as well as supporting the artists involved.
Romford in Bloom
Romford BID has worked to transform urban areas within the town with floral displays, and Romford was a finalist in Britain in Bloom in 2023.
Summer Screens
Vauxhall ONE added to Vauxhall’s summer programme with Summer Screens, free outdoor summer screenings of feel good movies
Super Soapbox
Bradford BID supports one of the city’s most popular events, the Super Soapbox, seeing racers compete in a course through the city centre.
Marble Arch Community
Over 30 characities and social enterprises have their offices or deliver services within Marble Arch BID, and 11,000 children go to school within 15 minutes of the BID. Through community projects like planting and skill sharing, the BID connects businesses with community groups.
Newcastle Quayside
Since 2018, Newcastle BID has invested in Quayside, helping to create an iconic waterfront location. Creating a trail and events, engaging with stakeholders and partners, the work Newcastle BID is doing helps to increase time spent at Quayside, encourage investment and enhance the area and public realm.
Bikes for Cargo
Team London Bridge‘s Bikes for Business offers a fast and clean alternative to motorised deliveries in London.
Leeds International Festival
Leeds BID’s Leeds International festival of Ideas brings together leaders, pioneers and creators to the city for a programme of events at Leeds Playhouse.
Work in Norwich
Norwich BID’s Work in Norwich campaign shines a spotlight on the city as a place to live and work.
Dorkensian Christmas
Dorking BID works with the town each year to celebrate Christmas. The Very Dorkensian Christmas Festival sees music, entertainment and food across Dorking.
Liverpool Restaurant Week
In early Spring, Liverpool BID organises Restaurant Week, celebrating the city’s hospitality sector and showcasing the best way to explore the city plate by plate. With dedicated offers, the team works with venues across the city centre to create a sense of place and championing the food and drink offer in one of the UK’s most popular city break destinations
P!NK
Sunderland BID helped to organise a programme of events around P!NK’s two nights of concerts on Wearside, with magical characters around the city centre and animation.
Wombles of Wimbledon
Love Wimbledon embraced their most famous residents for a mural to celebrate sustainability and placemaking. The Wombles mural was unveiled in 2020.
Spooky Season
Be Richmond’s pumpkin trail takes visitors through the town to celebrate Halloween.
Shop Redesign
We Are Waterloo invested over £30,000 into the renovation of 10 shopfronts located throughout the Waterloo area.
Transforming the public realm
Part of the central work of BIDs is to enhance the public realm, making it a better place for those who live and work in towns and cities. At Colmore BID, Dressing the District has invested in projects including hanging baskets and flower towers, places to sit and hold events and an open air gallery to bring art into the public realm.
