National BIDs Conference 2025

Secure Your Tickets

We hope you are able to join us!

The photo gallery from last year's Conference can be viewed below:

Supt. Lisa Maslen, National Business Crime Centre

Lisa has such an incredible amount of insight and experience, and will bring our members an exceptional overview of what's happening when it comes to retail crime, and where the NBCC sits in that focus.

ACC Jenny Gilmer, South Wales Police

Jenny is an Assistant Chief Constable with South Wales Police, having served previously with British Transport Police in London and Scotland. Alongside her responsibilities in force ACC Gilmer is the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for CCTV, Courts and Right Care Right Person. In 2024 she became the national lead for Community Safety Accreditation Schemes (CSAS) and private security industry liaison.

Jenny will be joining the discussion with Lisa on Neighbourhood Policing and Town Centres - Tackling crime and promoting safety.

Davy Cowie, Policy Lead– High Streets & Commercial Property, Communities and Inclusive Growth Directorate, MHCLG

The UK government's "Pride in Place" Strategy is a programme aimed at revitalising disadvantaged communities by investing in public spaces, high streets, and community assets. It is seeking to empower communities with new rights, including the ability to influence local development and foster a strong sense of belonging and local identity.

Davy will be talking about the recently announced strategy and in particular the aspects which relate to BIDs.

Allen Simpson, Chief Executive, UKHospitality

Allen has had a really varied and interesting career, including serving in organisations such as the Foreign Office and London Stock Exchange. He joined UK Hospitality in 2024 as Deputy Chief Executive, before stepping into his current role.

His insight will be hugely valuable to all those involved in the BID community, and we very much look forward to welcoming him.

Vivienne Kennedy, Director of Operations, Bristol BID

Vivienne is currently Director of Broadmead BID, one of the UK’s smaller but long-standing BIDs, now in its 20th year. By the time of the National BIDs Conference, she will have taken on the role of Director of Operations at the newly formed Bristol BID — a merger of Broadmead BID, Bristol City Centre BID, and Redcliffe & Temple BID. Launching its first term just days before our Conference, Bristol BID will represent nearly 1,400 hereditaments and unlock £18 million of investment over five years, making it one of the largest BIDs in the country.

In her session, Vivienne will share the rationale behind the merger, the challenges of aligning three BIDs with different term dates, and her vision for the future. She’ll also explore the evolving role of BIDs — balancing strategic influence with the delivery of core, on-the-ground services — and ask the question: Can BIDs be all things to all people?

Dee Corsi, Chair, High Streets UK & Chief Executive, New West End Company

Dee is Chair of High Streets UK - a pro-growth, nationwide partnership which aims to tackle the most pressing issues facing the UK’s flagship high streets and unlock local and national growth. Since its launch in January 2025, High Streets UK has led policy discussions on business rates, the delivery of safer high streets, and the UK’s competitiveness as a tourist destination. Dee is also Chief Executive of New West End Company – the Business Improvement District representing over 600 businesses in London’s West End.

Dee will be talking about the work of High Streets UK, of which she is a founding member alongside others including leading Business Improvement Districts from Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Leeds, London and Newcastle.

Paul Phillips, Director, Non-Domestic Revaluation – Valuation Office Agency

Paul is the Director of the Non-Domestic Revaluation at the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), where he leads the delivery of the agency’s largest operational programme. A Chartered Surveyor with 35 years of public service, Paul joined the VOA in 1990 following a brief period in private practice.

Paul will talk about the upcoming revaluation and the VOA’s approach.

Professor Chris Turner, Head of Research, British BIDs

Chris is an Economist and Information scientist, having worked initially at the British Institute of Management before moving into academic research and teaching before becoming Chief Executive of British BIDs. Chris focuses on BID research, training, governance, business intelligence and local and central government relationships for British BIDs. 

Chris and Lucy will be discussing industry trends and standards.

Lucy Stanford, Head of Projects, British BIDs

Lucy assists BIDs with a range of support and projects. 

Lucy and Chris will be discussing industry trends and standards.

Our Sponsor

The National BIDs Conference sponsor for 2025 is Blachere Illumination, who have been leading the way in commercial festive decorations for over 45 years. Most recently, Blachere have been addressing plastic pollution with their Recyprint range, where plastic bottles are collected and used to create stunning illuminations. They are also a recognised partner with WWC thank to their eco-friendly products.

Catch up with the Blachere team on the day.

The Venue

This year we will be hosting the conference at the grade II listed building, One Moorgate Place in London, which first opened in 1893. 

As you venture through One Moorgate Place, you will appreciate the creative engineering work of the original architectural style and building design. With extensions and updates taking place throughout its history, there is a strong art-deco feel in some areas which juxtaposes the original features.

Although a grade II listed building, One Moorgate Place continues to move with the wants and needs of the events and conferencing market and maintains to keep up with technical developments of the 21st century.