Coventry BID to back businesses for a further five years following successful reballot process

Coventry BID has secured another five-year term – meaning businesses in the city centre are set to benefit from another five years of support and promotion.

The recent reballot process for the BID, which has served the business community in Coventry city centre for 20 years, saw the majority of members vote for it to continue its work for another five years.

Through a period of consultation as part of the reballot, businesses had highlighted three major areas they want the BID to focus on: security and safety; enhancing and promoting the city centre; and business voice and support.

As a result of that consultation, the BID put security, promotion and support at the heart of its priorities for its forthcoming term, with plans to build on its work to help businesses and promote Coventry, increasing footfall and ensuring a safe, thriving city centre for people who live, work and visit.

Following its successful reballot, the BID will now pursue priorities outlined in its Business Plan. They include aiming for Purple Flag accreditation, which aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of towns and city centres at night, as well as continuing work to encourage footfall into the city centre to benefit businesses and encourage investment.

BID Manager Joanne Glover said: “We’re delighted that businesses have put their faith in Coventry BID for another five-year term. Over the past 20 years, the BID has played a key role in helping support businesses and ensure that Coventry city centre is a safe, successful place to be.

“It is clear that the majority of businesses recognised what would be lost without a BID in the city centre, and voted to retain and build on the support we offer to help promote them and the city as a whole.

“At the BID we have always known there is more to be done, hence the priorities we outlined in the Business Plan following consultation with our members. With that in mind, we’re pleased that we can build on everything we’ve achieved and do even more to make Coventry city centre one of the best places to live, work, do business in and visit in the UK.

“As we’ve said previously, we’ve taken our members’ feedback and plan 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.”

The new five-year term comes after a turbulent period for businesses, during which time they have received invaluable support from the BID, including the enabling of investment of over £6 million in projects and services, plus £500,000 more in grants, sponsorship and project-generated income.

The BID also 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 UK City of Culture.

As part of the reballot consultation process, 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. This information, as well as other feedback, will help shape the work of the BID for the forthcoming term.

Following the successful vote for a further five-year term, the services provided by the BID will continue and the fifth term of Coventry BID will start on April 1st, 2023.

The full Coventry BID Business Plan for the forthcoming five-year term can be accessed here.