Canterbury’s Business Improvement District (BID) will continue to provide investment, representation and business support for the city after winning its third renewal ballot.
Following a successful decade in Canterbury, a renewal ballot was held from 6 June – 11 July for businesses within the BID area to vote on whether or not the organisation should continue for another five-year term.
Businesses voted overwhelmingly in support of renewing the BID for another 5 year term from October 2024 to September 2029 with 90% in favour by number and 93% by rateable value with a 45% turnout.
This result enables Canterbury BID to put £3.6m investment collected from BID levy payments and additional income sources, back into the city from 2024 to 2029, including providing the city’s Christmas lights and festive marketing, the MyCanterbury loyalty card and gift card scheme, Visit Canterbury tourism website, local and national marketing campaigns, safer streets programmes, additional street cleaning, flower baskets, business training and numerous seasonal events that bring thousands of people to the city.
Quote from Lisa Carlson CEO of Canterbury BID:
“Thank you to everyone who voted in favour of Canterbury BID. We have achieved so much together in the last 10 years, and I am thrilled that we can continue to build on that work to bring in more people and make the city an even better place for our businesses to thrive.
“There is so much we are looking forward to delivering for the city over the next five years, including a really exciting collaboration this Christmas, so watch this space! We will continue to listen and amplify the voices of our businesses, working shoulder to shoulder in areas where our support is needed, and we will continue to be bold with our actions to bring commercial success to our members.”
Quote from Clare Millett, CEO, Westgate Hall and Chair of Canterbury BID:
“This result highlights the passion we have for working together as a community of businesses. We are resilient, creative, innovative, and the ‘yes’ vote ensures BID has another five years of exciting collaborations ahead, all of which directly benefit the city and everyone who lives, visits, works and studies here.
“The BID team has always recognised that each organisation faces individual challenges, all of the BID team and our voluntary Board members work tirelessly to support and deliver activity benefitting all businesses within the area. The ballot results reflect the support and good faith that our businesses have in the BID’s work for the next five years and beyond.”
Quote for Paul Turner, Chief Operations Officer at The Marlowe and Vice Chair of Canterbury BID:
“As a representative of Kent’s biggest theatre, we are delighted with the BID ballot result, as we know how important it is for the city. Without it we would have lost so many of the things that attract visitors, and an organisation that brings businesses from all sectors together as a community with a collective voice.”
The BID Business Plan 2024-2029 will invest in promoting the city to visitors and residents, provide free business support to help the businesses continue to grow, and to strive for a clean safe and enjoyable city. The BID will continue to provide dedicated support for the city’s business community including citywide marketing (seasonal campaigns, events, reward cards, gift cards, maps, guides and more); safety and security (Purple Flag, safer streets, Best Bar None and more); street decorations (Christmas lights, flower baskets, bunting) and the continuation of the destination marketing platform Visit Canterbury which the BID re-launched in November 2023. The new BID term will start from October 2024.
In the meantime, there is plenty to enjoy in Canterbury this summer. Check the latest event listings at canterbury.co.uk. To find out more about the projects and activities planned for the third BID term click here: canterburybid.co.uk/business-plan-2024
