Steering groups set up to get BID on the right track

THE Stockport BID – Totally Stockport - will generate almost £2.5m of additional funding over the next five years, specifically ring-fenced for projects that will benefit and add value for the BID levy payers and enhance the offering in Stockport town centre.

The initial business plan outlined the BID’s objectives and an early project was to survey people in the ‘villages’ around the town centre.

We wanted to find out how often people visit Stockport; why they are coming into Stockport – for instance: business, shopping or leisure.

We asked those who don’t visit Stockport town centre what they would like to find here.

The answers to these and additional questions have helped us to start to create a programme of work and events that will bring more people into the town centre, more often.

We will soon be publishing an update on the business plan and reporting back to the BID levy payers with news of what has been achieved so far and what we would like to plan for the future.

But it is very important that the businesses in the town centre are included in this decision process.

To facilitate this, we have set up four main steering groups: Experience, Business, Marketing and Digital.

These groups are open to all businesses in the town centre BID area to attend, we welcome your ideas and input.

The Experience group is working with retailers to create a better shopping experience.

For instance improved parking, more attractive pedestrian routes that better link the areas of the town centre, tackling empty properties, more events that appeal to a wide audience and encouraging an evening culture.

If you would like to find out more about joining the Experience group, please email Maxine McDermott, store manager at Marks & Spencer: Maxine. McDermott@marks-andspencer.com.

The Business group is responsible for driving initiatives to create a safer town centre, to attract more businesses, to increase employee engagement and give them more choice and to create a town centre business network. Small businesses will be able to apply for funds from a small business loan fund.

The Business Group have introduced a joint procurement project with partner Meercat Associates that is already helping businesses to reduce costs.

To join us contact Stuart Broadbelt of McDonalds in Merseyway for more information at Stuart@ ronniesltd.co.uk.

The Marketing group will define and communicate ‘what is Stockport.’

The team has developed the Totally Stockport branding and will work to create a strong and trusted brand for Stockport town centre.

The new website is live and will continue to evolve as the go-to source for information.

More town-centre-wide events are being planned, improved channels of communication will build greater awareness and marketing will promote Stockport as a destination of choice.

To join the Marketing group – email paul.taylor@totallystockport.co.uk.

The Digital group will ensure that Stockport is better connected.

Last month the Totally Stockport app launched promoting money-saving offers.

Through the collection of data, performance indicators can be set to measure BID outcomes and the flow of foot traffic can be determined across the town centre to aid promotions.

The group are currently examining the feasibility of free wi-fi across the town centre.

If you or your business is a BID levy payer and you would like to get involved in one, two or perhaps more of the steering groups, please email Paul Taylor, BID Manager for Totally Stockport at paul. taylor@totallystockport.co.uk.