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Businesses told it’s ‘crucial’ they have their say on new plans for improving Bradford city centre

Businesses in Bradford city centre are being urged to help shape the future of its Business Improvement District (BID).

Bradford BID has started a new consultation exercise to bring together the thoughts and ideas of businesses and organisations to help it set its priorities for a second five-year term.

The business-led and business-funded body was set up in 2018 to deliver a range of improvements to the city centre.

A ballot of more than 630 businesses and organisations produced an 82 per cent vote in favour of establishing the not-for-profit limited company which generates about £450,000 a year towards projects aimed at boosting city centre footfall and trade, through a small levy on their business rates.

The BID’s first term closes towards the end of this year and a new ballot will be held in late summer and early autumn to measure support for a second five-year term.

Bradford BID manager Jonny Noble said: “The new five-year Business Plan is essential to set out what we hope to achieve in our second term and it’s vitally important that businesses and other organisations within the city centre BID boundary let us know what their priorities are.

“The BID is funded by businesses on behalf of businesses and their involvement in drawing up plans for the next five-year period is crucial.”

The survey of business views is open now via the Bradford BID website and will be carried out over the next few weeks.

There are more than 300 BIDs across the UK and the vast majority have gone on to receive business support for a further term after their first five years.

The BID’s first five-year plan was launched at a glittering event at the National Science and Media Museum’s Pictureville cinema and its contents have helped drive the success of an organisation which is already regarded as one of the top BIDs in the country and led to major highlights such as the five-year street hot-washing programme, the launch of Bradford at Night, the City Centre Gift Card, the Super Soapbox Challenge, the huge festive fireworks display and Bradford becoming the world’s first WalkSafe city.

The original Plan set out four key pillars of activity: Clean, Safe, Alive and Promoted.

“The pillars have been the foundation of everything we have achieved over the first four years so far,” said BID chairman Ian Ward (pictured, above, at the launch of the original Business Plan).

“They have guided everything we have done and helped us to build a real community of like-minded business owners and others who are determined to help create the best possible experience for those who live, work, shop and spend their leisure time in Bradford centre.

“They arose from the consultation exercise conducted in 2018 and the many thoughts, hopes, ideas and wishes of city centre businesses who are passionate about making Bradford the best it can be.

“But times have changed, the city centre has moved on and continues to evolve and it is time for a refresh and a new-look strategy informed by everything we have learned in our first term – including how to survive the impact of a global pandemic and face up to the challenges of a soaring cost of living.

“It’s time for fresh thinking, fresh ideas and a new set of priorities and they absolutely have to be driven by the businesses and organisations who will be here helping us to live up to them.”

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