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Countdown is on as Sheffield BID goes to ballot

Sheffield BID Champions and guests marked the first day of the postal ballot for 500 businesses in the city centre to vote to create the first Business Improvement District.

BID Champion chair and managing director of John Lewis, James Prince is leading the pledges of support of this major initiative to raise money to deliver projects that would boost the economy of the city centre.

He said: “External investors are investing in Sheffield’s city centre as they see its potential, but the changes they are making could take longer if things stay as they are and the city doesn’t do something for itself.

“We need to demonstrate we can all work together to make a difference and that we care enough about our city centre to invest in it ourselves.

“Other cities have already benefited from a BID and they are now are reaping the rewards of increased footfall and greater spend.”

Professor Sir Keith Burnett CBE, vice-chancellor of the University of Sheffield, said: “The University of Sheffield takes a keen interest in the development of Sheffield and we are delighted to work closely with local businesses of all kinds to strengthen our city centre.

“The University employs 7,000 staff and has 26,000 students from across the world who want to enjoy and contribute to a vibrant city.

“Working together to improve our city makes it even more attractive to the students and graduates who are so vital to Sheffield’s economy, and brings important benefits to the local companies and people who live and work alongside us.”

Simon Nevill associate director Arup and BID Champion said: “As our business expands through local recruitment from the two Universities and from across the country having a great place to work is an essential element.

“The city centre with all the recent changes and the proposals for more improvements as part of the BID, together the links to the Peak District, help to achieve this.

“We therefore strongly believe that the proposed BID investment in services and events over and above those provided by the Council is an important and worthwhile investment in our future city.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .