Security, promotion and support are at the heart of priorities for the next five years for Coventry’s Business Improvement District (BID)

Coventry BID, which has been serving the business community in the city centre for 20 years, has launched its Business Plan for the next five years, outlining priorities identified as the result of direct consultation with businesses in the city.

The plan is part of the reballot process, which will see eligible businesses given the opportunity to vote for another five-year term for the BID, or risk losing the services and support it provides.

The Business Plan outlines the BID’s achievements to date, including enabling the investment of over £6 million in projects and services to improve Coventry for its businesses, plus £500,000 more in grants, sponsorship and project-generated income.

Alongside this, it offered assistance and advice to businesses during the Covid pandemic, staged major events to bring footfall to the city centre, undertook schemes to improve safety, and delivered two projects as part of the City of Culture.

The Business Plan follows a consultation with businesses which highlighted three major areas they want the BID’s work to focus on: security and safety; enhancing and promoting the city centre; and business voice and support.

According to the consultation, 74% of businesses said it was extremely important for the BID’s street patrol team to operate during peak business hours, while 55% said they regularly use the retail radios delivered as part of a BID scheme to share local intelligence with other businesses, the BID’s street patrol team, CCTV operators and the local neighbourhood policing team.

The BID Business Plan commits to focus on areas businesses have highlighted, including building on work to ensure a safe and secure city centre, such as aiming for Purple Flag accreditation, which aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of towns and city centres at night.

Other work includes the continuation of the promotion of Coventry to encourage footfall into the city centre to benefit businesses, supporting businesses and encouraging investment in the city centre.

BID Manager Joanne Glover said: “Our aims, as set out in our Business Plan, are simple. We want to support businesses by focusing on the priorities they have identified and build on the work the BID has done over the last 20 years.

“The document outlines the impressive achievements of the last four BID terms and the tangible impact the BID has made to the business community in Coventry city centre, from improving safety for everyone who lives, works and visits Coventry to shouting about the city to anyone who will listen.

“Through its many events, from food and music festivals to contributions to City of Culture projects and the Christmas lights scheme, the BID has been key in helping to attract thousands of people to Coventry to eat in our restaurants and cafes, shop in our retailers, and bolster our night-time economy.

“During the Covid pandemic the BID helped members secure the funding and support they needed to survive, and it’s also been instrumental in helping launch a whole range of new businesses in Coventry, as well as backing those who are mainstays of our city centre.

“In line with our members’ feedback, we’re going to continue to promote culture, tourism and events, to invest in campaigns that celebrate Coventry as a thriving location for investment, to ensure businesses are involved in partnership working across the city, and to help raise the national and international profile of Coventry as a great city.

“All of this needs the support of our businesses so we can continue our work for a fifth term, and without that, the work that we’ve started and hope to continue will disappear, which can only be detrimental to our wonderful businesses and the city as a whole.”

Businesses will receive their ballot papers from January 17th, 2023. They must be returned by 5pm on Thursday, February 14th, 2023. If the majority are in favour, services will continue and the fifth term of Coventry BID will start on April 1st, 2023.

The full business plan can be accessed here.

Security, promotion and support are at the heart of priorities for the next five years for Coventry’s Business Improvement District (BID).

Coventry BID, which has been serving the business community in the city centre for 20 years, has launched its Business Plan for the next five years, outlining priorities identified as the result of direct consultation with businesses in the city.

The plan is part of the reballot process, which will see eligible businesses given the opportunity to vote for another five-year term for the BID, or risk losing the services and support it provides.

The Business Plan outlines the BID’s achievements to date, including enabling the investment of over £6 million in projects and services to improve Coventry for its businesses, plus £500,000 more in grants, sponsorship and project-generated income.

Alongside this, it offered assistance and advice to businesses during the Covid pandemic, staged major events to bring footfall to the city centre, undertook schemes to improve safety, and delivered two projects as part of the City of Culture.

The Business Plan follows a consultation with businesses which highlighted three major areas they want the BID’s work to focus on: security and safety; enhancing and promoting the city centre; and business voice and support.

According to the consultation, 74% of businesses said it was extremely important for the BID’s street patrol team to operate during peak business hours, while 55% said they regularly use the retail radios delivered as part of a BID scheme to share local intelligence with other businesses, the BID’s street patrol team, CCTV operators and the local neighbourhood policing team.

The BID Business Plan commits to focus on areas businesses have highlighted, including building on work to ensure a safe and secure city centre, such as aiming for Purple Flag accreditation, which aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of towns and city centres at night.

Other work includes the continuation of the promotion of Coventry to encourage footfall into the city centre to benefit businesses, supporting businesses and encouraging investment in the city centre.

BID Manager Joanne Glover said: “Our aims, as set out in our Business Plan, are simple. We want to support businesses by focusing on the priorities they have identified and build on the work the BID has done over the last 20 years.

“The document outlines the impressive achievements of the last four BID terms and the tangible impact the BID has made to the business community in Coventry city centre, from improving safety for everyone who lives, works and visits Coventry to shouting about the city to anyone who will listen.

“Through its many events, from food and music festivals to contributions to City of Culture projects and the Christmas lights scheme, the BID has been key in helping to attract thousands of people to Coventry to eat in our restaurants and cafes, shop in our retailers, and bolster our night-time economy.

“During the Covid pandemic the BID helped members secure the funding and support they needed to survive, and it’s also been instrumental in helping launch a whole range of new businesses in Coventry, as well as backing those who are mainstays of our city centre.

“In line with our members’ feedback, we’re going to continue to promote culture, tourism and events, to invest in campaigns that celebrate Coventry as a thriving location for investment, to ensure businesses are involved in partnership working across the city, and to help raise the national and international profile of Coventry as a great city.

“All of this needs the support of our businesses so we can continue our work for a fifth term, and without that, the work that we’ve started and hope to continue will disappear, which can only be detrimental to our wonderful businesses and the city as a whole.”

Businesses will receive their ballot papers from January 17th, 2023. They must be returned by 5pm on Thursday, February 14th, 2023. If the majority are in favour, services will continue and the fifth term of Coventry BID will start on April 1st, 2023.

The full business plan can be accessed here.