Look back on lockdown - BIDs (part 2)

It's in Nottingham

• The Nottingham BID website and social media channels have been kept up to date with the latest government support, advice and guidance.
• Ensured issues facing businesses are communicated into the national picture through the national #RaiseTheBar campaign.
• Launched a Facebook group for independent businesses to encourage them to seek ideas and support from each other.
• Conducted patrols of the city to ensure the security of vacant premises and offered check ins on premises when requested. Request a check in here.
• Used digital maps to highlight to the public which businesses are open and what services are available.
• Launched a weekly web series, ‘Talking Shop’ to showcase independent businesses, with over 30,000 views over the 8 episodes.
• Nottingham BID were proud sponsors of digital events such as the Nottstopping Festival, which featured over 200 hours of content from local artists, businesses and musicians.
• Conducted consumer facing research in partnership with British BIDs and the New Economics Foundation to provide insights into the public’s thoughts and feelings about coming out of lockdown.

 Full recovery plan can be viewed here.

Uxbridge BID

• Worked closely to support over 300 businesses with their re-openings, providing signage, social distancing floor stickers, masks, sanitizers, posters, window transfers and a Business Recovery Pack which included guidelines for reopening and instructing how to adhere to safety procedures. 
• Funded a Metropolitan Police Officer and provided extra day time security wardens, both are in operation seven days a week. 
• Supported and promoted local businesses via social media channels and blog posts on our website. 
• Launched the 'Back to Uxbridge campaign' which included press, social media and e-newsletters which went out to over 5000 residents and a physical newsletter that was distributed to over 600 businesses in Uxbridge. 
• Launched 'Love Independents' campaign which includes a map of independent shops, eateries and businesses in Uxbridge Town Centre. Maps are being distributed to 5000 households and a two month long social media campaign will be run in conjunction. 
• Free parking for the office sector for July to increase footfall into the town and reduce reliance on public transport. 
• Supported the nationwide #RaiseTheBar campaign.
• Provided Uxbridge themed activities for children that can be downloaded from our website. 
• Installed a thank you NHS and support local window display in the town centre.

In Colchester

• Welcome Back Colchester campaign
• Lock it with Love (bringing the community together and raising money for Colchester and Ipswich Hospital Charity)
• Reopening packs for all town centre businesses
• Hand Sanatiser stations at Colchester Council car parks and bus stops 
• One-way systems and floor vinyls placed around the town

Jewellery Quarter BID, Birmingham

• Jewellery Quarter at Home - Jewellery Quarter BID's online festival

Each year, since 2015, we've run our biggest flagship project - the Jewellery Quarter Festival - which brings an average of 16,000 visits to the Quarter over the course of a June weekend. For obvious reasons, 2020's Festival was unable to go ahead. However, instead of cancelling the event completely, we decided to turn the event digital and put our focus into supporting our local independent businesses.

• JQ Life Magazine goes Digital

Each Quarter we produce a magazine which highlights what life is like in the Jewellery Quarter and is distributed across Birmingham and the West Midlands. Due to the social distancing measures in place and the closure of many businesses, we turned our printed magazine digital and also took the opportunity to re-think our content and put more focus on local businesses and the community. The magazine can be seen here: https://jewelleryquarter.net/jq-life-magazine/

• Collaboration with Birmingham BIDs

A huge positive to come out of the current situation has been the linkup between the five Birmingham City Centre BIDs. Communication between the BIDs has increased dramatically with weekly and monthly catch ups between members. Working together, we've developed a campaign to promote that Birmingham is Back in Business. Titled 'Birmingham is Back', tailored content has been created for each of the BID areas to use on their social media channels, with a new 'Birmingham is Back' brand also launched.

Sunderland BID

• From the start, we have remained proactive and responsive on social media – using our B2B and B2C channels to help keep the businesses up to date with the latest Government guidance, and on the other hand showing consumers / communities how they could still support their favourite businesses who had diversified to a delivery or other service. 
• Started a series of Ask the Expert panel webinars, which have looked at a number of topics such as: furlough scheme, consumer confidence and more. 
• Assembled the City Centre Recovery Task Force with individual task force teams looking at how we get Sunderland up and running once non-essential shops reopened.

Collectively Camberley

• Handed out over 120 Business reopening packs, including floor stickers/mini sanitisers
• Turned all large events into virtual events
• Social platforms turned to more community engagement to keep businesses and Love Camberley brand in the minds of the public
• Welcome back to Camberley video
• Bollard covers put up around town with public health messages 
• Supported the local lockdown support – business and residential 
• Camberley Town Centre Gift Card scheme to help with recovery (launching 7^th September)
• Purchased mobile hand sanitiser stations for Town Centre use 
• Handed out 200 clear face coverings to support our recent working with our Deaf Community, enabling each business to be inclusive and allow lip reading.

North Notts BID

• Supported the community by working with our local schools in order to support our GPs, care homes, Bassetlaw Hospital and First Responders. More information here.
• How busy is my town?
  Working closely with Elephant WiFi to introduce a system where people can see how busy their town is before choosing to visit/shop.
• Prepared and sent out a variety of videos to help our businesses get back to work safely.
• Working with our partners, LoyalFree, we developed local trails to help people survive lockdown, whilst promoting our businesses.
• Supported the RaiseTheBar campaign.

Broadmead Bristol BID

• Kept in constant touch with levy payers with newsletters and direct emails initially highlighting financial support available through grants and bounce back loans and then support around government guidelines.
• Arranged free parking for all essential retailers in the galleries car park.
• Used social media accounts and Loyal Free app to daily promote essential retailers trading hours and products/offers and the non-essential stores online business and also or food operators their take takeaway and delivery services.
  
• Provided an increased street based retail support ranger service to essential retailers and also to closed retailers by checking on buildings and reporting back issues to key holders.
  
• Developed a 4 stage recovery plan and shared with the Management Group and levy payers.
  
• Gave insights into British BIDs research on BIDS and their new normal and the BIDS response to COVID-19.
• Worked with the City Council, the Police and the 2 main shopping centres to coordinate a joined up plan to reopen Bristol Shopping Quarter.
• Featured on BBC news with an interview on the reopening of the high street.
  
• Working with our partners in the City Centre BID and Visit Bristol to develop a city wide marketing campaign to welcome back visitors to a safe Bristol.
  
• Influencing the transport team at the City Council to suspend bus stops on the busy streets through Broadmead to allow more pedestrian space to social distance.