What Is A Business Improvement District (BID)?

If you run a business in a town centre or city centre, you’ve probably heard the term Business Improvement District (or BID).

But what does it actually mean for you and your business?

Let’s strip it back.

No jargon. No policy waffle. Just the useful bits.

A BID, in plain English

A Business Improvement District is a defined area where local businesses come together to invest in making the area better for everyone.

That investment is usually collected through a small levy, which is then reinvested locally to improve things like:

• Footfall and town centre activity

• Marketing and promotion

• Events and placemaking

• Business support and training

• Cleanliness, safety and the overall experience of the area

In short: a BID exists to help the place you trade in perform better so your business has a better chance of performing better too.

Why BIDs exist (and why they matter)

Town centres and city centres have changed.

Footfall habits have shifted.
Customer expectations are higher.
Online competition is relentless.

BIDs exist to fill the gap between what councils can realistically deliver and what local businesses actually need to stay visible, relevant and competitive.

A good BID doesn’t just organise events or stick up posters.

It helps create reasons for people to visit, spend time, and spend money in your area.
It brings businesses together instead of everyone trying to figure things out alone.
It acts as a voice for local traders when bigger decisions are being made.

What a BID can do for your business

Every BID is different, but most focus on practical, visible support. That can include:

1. Bringing more people into your area
Campaigns, events, seasonal activity and town centre promotions that drive footfall.

2. Helping you stand out locally
Local marketing, digital promotion, features, business directories and campaigns that put your business in front of the right people, not just more people.

3. Supporting you behind the scenes
Training, workshops, practical resources and support that help you improve how you attract and retain customers.

4. Creating a better trading environment
Cleaner streets, safer spaces, improved signage, better experiences for customers. All of this affects how people feel about spending time (and money) where you trade.

Why “doing it together” works better than doing it alone

Most business owners are already stretched.

You’re running the day-to-day.
You’re trying to keep up with digital changes.
You’re juggling staffing, stock, suppliers and customers.

A BID exists to take some of that pressure off by doing the things that work better when done collectively:

• Promoting the place, not just individual businesses

• Creating joined-up campaigns instead of one-off posts

• Investing in skills and support that benefit the wider business community

• Building long-term visibility for the town or city centre

When the place gets stronger, individual businesses benefit.

What a modern BID looks like today

The role of a BID has evolved.

It’s no longer just about banners, events and Christmas lights.

Modern BIDs are increasingly focused on:

• Helping businesses adapt to digital changes

• Supporting visibility online as well as on the street

• Giving business owners practical skills they can use

• Building community, not just campaigns

• Making sure support doesn’t stop at one workshop or one event

Because today, attracting customers is not just about being on the high street.
It’s about being visible everywhere your customers are.

The bottom line

A Business Improvement District exists to make the place you trade in work better for your business.

Not in theory.
In practice.

When a BID is doing its job well, you should feel:

• More supported

• More visible

• Less isolated

• Better equipped to deal with change

• More confident about the future of your trading environment

And that’s what matters.

If you’re part of a BID, the real value comes when you don’t just “benefit from it”, but actively use what’s being put in place for you.

Because support only works when it’s actually used.