British BIDs 2024
Nic Durston, Chair of British BIDs introducing the conference and the panel.
British BIDs Conference 2024: Reflecting on 20 Years of Place-Based Innovation
The 2024 British BIDs Conference celebrated two decades of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), offering a platform for reflection, innovation, and forward-looking strategies. With over 341 active BIDs across the British Isles, the event highlighted their pivotal role in revitalising communities, shaping public spaces, and fostering economic growth.
Government Engagement and Policy Directions
Catherine Bennion, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG), outlined the government’s priorities for high streets and communities. She identified three core missions driving current policies:
Growth: Enhancing the economy and living standards.
Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour: Introducing new penalties for offenders and establishing youth hubs.
Devolution: Empowering local regions through the forthcoming English Devolution Bill.
Bennion also mentioned a Discussion Paper on Business Rates Reform, inviting dialogue on potential changes to address longstanding challenges. Despite the 2014 announcement of a BID Innovation Forum, no decisions have yet been made to advance this initiative.
Social Value: A Growing Priority for Real Estate
Wesley Ankrah, Head of Social Value at Savills Earth, emphasised the importance of embedding social value into real estate projects. BIDs, he argued, act as investors in place, creating comfortable, people-centric environments that boost community pride, employee welfare, and tenant retention.
His approach begins with a community audit, ensuring that developments align with local needs and preferences, delivering significant and lasting impact. By fostering social value, BIDs contribute to enhanced asset value and enduring legacies for towns and cities.
The panel discussing the future of BIDs.
Panel Discussion: Future-Proofing BIDs
A panel featuring Danielle McRorie-Smith (Stirling BID), Mark Myers (Cheapside BID), and Sally Gilborn (North Notts BID) delved into the evolving role of BIDs. Key themes included:
Broadening BID Services: Expanding beyond events and clean-up initiatives to address climate change, social value, and community safety.
Collaborative Projects: Partnering with third-sector organisations to tackle larger, systemic challenges. For example, Stirling BID employs peer mentors from disadvantaged backgrounds to address anti-social behaviour.
Consistency and Standards: Advocating for standardised governance, accreditation, and electronic balloting to ensure accountability and enable longer-term 10-year BID terms.
The discussion underscored the critical need for strong local authority relationships and training for council officers to understand and support BID operations.
BIDs and Community Impact
Florence Eshalomi, MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, praised the transformative role of BIDs in her constituency. From funding police officers in South London to lobbying for critical support during the Covid-19 pandemic, BIDs have proven essential in addressing community challenges.
Her speech reinforced the importance of BIDs as a bridge between businesses, local authorities, and communities, driving positive change on both small and large scales.
Chris Turner, dropping all the stats.
20 Years of BIDs: A Data-Driven Perspective
Professor Chris Turner, Head of Research at British BIDs, provided a detailed overview of BID performance and evolution:
History: The BID model began in 1969, with the first UK BID introduced in Kingston following the Local Government Act 2003. Regulations expanded to Wales (2005), Ireland (2006), and Scotland (2007).
Growth: There are now 341 BIDs across the British Isles, with 1,057 total ballots conducted to date. While 10% of ballots fail, results tend to improve with successive BID terms.
Investment: In 2024, BIDs collectively invested £154 million in their communities. The median BID budget is £295,500, with top earners reaching £4.1 million.
Turner highlighted concerns with traditional paper balloting, noting that 57% of BIDs faced issues, including lost ballot papers. Calls for electronic balloting have grown, particularly as accurate voter lists remain critical to success.
Key Takeaways and Future Priorities
Standardisation and Governance: Establishing robust operating practices to enhance accountability and support longer BID terms.
Technology Adoption: Moving towards electronic balloting to address inefficiencies and reduce reliance on postal systems.
Social Value Integration: Placing people and communities at the heart of BID projects to foster pride and create lasting impact.
Collaboration: Strengthening partnerships with local authorities, third-sector organisations, and other BIDs for larger-scale initiatives.
Policy Engagement: Advocating for reforms in business rates and leveraging devolution to empower local communities.
As British BIDs mark 20 years of innovation and impact, the conference reaffirmed their vital role in shaping vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive communities. With £154 million invested annually and growing opportunities for collaboration, BIDs remain a cornerstone of place-making across the UK.
