BIDs play a crucial role in managing our town and city centres, and that didn't stop when we entered lockdown on 23rd March.
Since then, BIDs have been extremely busy keeping levy payers updated with relevant news, and keeping towns and cities safe and secure, ready for the reopening that took place on 15th June with a further reopening this Saturday (4th July).
Below is a look at what BIDs have been up to over the past three months.
Preston BID
Introduced a disinfecting programme, taking in street furniture and touch points.
Power-washing programme has recommenced; six days per week, across the city centre (early mornings prior to stores opening).
Replaced hand sanitising banks for public access 24/7 – they were installed prior to lockdown and have been replaced as a result of the high street re-opening/increased usage.
Set up a base on the city’s Flag Market to hand out complimentary face coverings to shoppers (accompanied by advice cards of what to do when visiting).
Ipswich Central
Ipswich Central have been working with local authorities to re-open the town centre safely. The re-opening campaign can be seen here.
Created weekly Chairmans Insights to keep businesses up-to-date.
Helped businesses to get their Small Business Grants.
Turned our consumer website in to a virtual experience - highlighting virtual activities, shows, exercise classes, businesses who have been open for essential items and those offering takeaways and delivery services.
Love Hastings
Getting out with sandpaper and paint brushes to paint the town! This includes railings, bollards, poles, and street name plates.
Greening the town with 100 individually planted troughs (laid out by a Chelsea RHS gold medal winning local nursery).
Local campaigns in local press and social media.
Overnight business security patrols.
Tracking down unclaimed small retail grants, with over £500,000 found so far.
Marking out the social distancing spacing with stickers and signage.
Stockton BID
Supplying safety packs to our businesses. this includes our specifically designed posters, branded hand sanitisers and sneeze guards.
'Open for business' posters put on empty shop fronts.
Started a project to brighten our Yards to make them more “Instagramable “ to encourage people to come and see them.
Hosted networking meeting Stockton MET via Zoom.
Vauxhall One BID
#SaveVauxhallNightlife campaign, which tied into the nationwide #RaiseTheBar campaign, successfully engaged with the local nighttime economy, featuring press coverage on ITV News and TimeOut.
A free family activity map delivered to local households, with colouring in, a word-search and a quiz taking families on a trail through Vauxhall. This mail drop gave locals the opportunity to explore the area, discover new businesses and get prizes for completing the quiz.
Vital cleaning projects throughout lockdown, including anti-bacterial cleaning of the Vauxhall station area to keep it safe for key workers making essential journeys through Vauxhall.
Greening projects also continued, including the new pocket garden and whiskey barrel planters distributed around the BID area.
Cheltenham BID
Produced two COVID-19 guides as soon as lockdown was introduced back in March - 1.What your business is entitled to included Government guidance, which can be read here. 2.Take your business online guide, which can be read here.
Held COVID-19 business support calls all the way through lockdown.
Four separate Back To Business campaigns were sent to businesses across four days: First Steps to Getting Your Business Ready, Top Marketing Tips, Benefits and Savings and Welcome Back.
Southside BID
Provided regular updates for our businesses in English and Chinese, including government guidelines, safety advice and financial assistance.
Helped over 60 businesses in the district to access grants and funding from the Council.
Maintained street wardens service to carry out daily routine checks on businesses, monitor the district and keep it safe.
Produced a video highlighting the support that Southside has given.
Carried out a thorough deep clean of the district, removing litter and gum, cleaning off graffiti and planting flowers to ensure Southside looks as inviting as possible as it reopens.
Commissioned additional street art to liven up public realm, adding to the existing street art trail to encourage visitors.
Added their voice to the #RaiseTheBar campaign, lobbying national and local government to provide additional financial support to hospitality and leisure venues above the £51,000 rateable value cap.
Taken part in a joint-BIDs marketing campaign with Birmingham’s city centre BIDs, to welcome people back to the city and spread the word that ‘Birmingham is Back’.
Prepared a comprehensive Business Recovery Pack included guidelines for reopening, links for social distancing guidelines and risk assessments, and suppliers details for PPE, signage and sanitiser.
