Member Article

Bradford seeks a 'special' candidate to be the face of its new Business Improvement District

A SEARCH is underway to find the “face” of Bradford’s new Business Improvement District for when it starts its operations in the new year.

The Bradford BID Manager post is being advertised extensively with applications set to close on November 7.

The position is seen as the key role in delivering the BID’s five-year business plan for improving the city centre and the successful candidate will manage a budget of more than £500,000 per annum.

The BID operating company is in the process of being legally established following last month’s ballot which saw a resounding 79 per cent of those who voted backing the initiative which will raise funds through a levy on about 630 city centre businesses and organisations.

Ian Ward, who chaired the campaign to create the BID, said the BID manager’s role was vitally important to the success of the organisation.

“The BID Manager is one of just two permanent full-time staff positions and he or she will be directly responsible to the operating board for the day-to-day running of all the projects and schemes we outlined in the business plan,” said Mr Ward.

“Whoever gets the job will also be responsible for managing our dealings with contractors and consultants as well as relationships with all the businesses, especially the levy-payers, within the BID area.

“He or she will need to be the face and voice of the BID, engaging with key stakeholders, lobbying on behalf of levy-payers and setting and delivering the highest standards on behalf of not just businesses but the city centre and all who use it.”

Candidates would need to have a proven track record of delivering projects and successful experience of management and leadership in a city centre environment, either in retail or place management or in a city centre partnership organisation, and experience in managing events would also be a “key asset.”

“Needless to say, we’re looking for someone pretty special,” said Mr Ward. “City centre management experience is crucial but we also want to find someone who is passionate about Bradford, its potential and its future – and preferably someone who knows and understands the city and its businesses and key stakeholders.

“Bradford is a fantastic city and the city centre has some great businesses and they deserve to have a BID that’s being run by highly-skilled people who really care about it and its future.”

The BID is also looking to recruit a Project Officer to support the Manager and help drive the many initiatives under the “Clean, Safe, Alive and Promoted” banners which make up the core strategies of the business plan.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Perry Austin-Clarke .