City’s Retail BID secures mandate for fourth term

A BUSINESS improvement district in Birmingham city centre has won backing for a fourth term.

Retail BID has secured a fresh mandate which will see it continue in operation until 2027.

A month-long ballot for the next five-year term was held among affected businesses and closed last week, returning a 94 per cent vote in favour of retaining Retail BID.

A business improvement district (BID) is a precisely defined geographic area in which companies pay an extra levy on their rates to fund additional services such as events and initiatives.

Retail BID is one of several serving different districts across the city centre and its remit is focussed on the area around the Bullring, Grand Central and New Street station and Corporation Street which takes in many of central Birmingham’s shops and banks.

Among its initiatives are a patrol team, the ‘City Safe’ digital radio network, floral and Christmas decorations, a programme of street cleaning and business support alongside marketing and promotions to encourage consumer footfall.

It is also launching a new Walking with The Snowman family sculpture trail which is being held in Birmingham for the first time this Christmas.

Sam Watson, chairwoman of Retail BID and general manager of Selfridges in the Bullring, said:

“We are absolutely delighted to have secured a fourth term representing city-centre businesses and thank our members for voting ‘yes’ during the ballot.

“The fourth term will begin at an exciting time for Birmingham as we head into the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the global spotlight that will shine on the city during the sports and cultural events.”

Retail BID manager Steve Hewlett said: “It’s a strong result, higher than the national average for BIDs, and shows that the businesses value the hard work of the team and we can now help build a bright future for the city centre.”

Birmingham City Council leader Cllr Ian Ward added: “This is great news. Retail BID has played a crucial role supporting businesses through a period of unprecedented challenge and will no doubt play a huge part in Birmingham’s post-Covid recovery and in the city’s golden decade to come.”