Business chief aims to get locals visiting city

THE DIRECTOR of a Yorkshire business improvement district (BID) believes a priority for 2019 will be attracting more local people into the city.

Looking back at what 2018 has been like for the city’s companies, Andrew Lowson, of York BID, said the organisation’s aim was to “make life as easy as possible for businesses” and help them thrive. He highlighted many positives from the last year – including tourism – but added that many businesses wanted to see more local people visiting York city centre.

He said the BID, a defined area in which businesses are required to pay an additional tax in order to fund projects within the district’s boundaries, had helped save thousands of pounds for companies during 2018. This includes street rangers recovering £31,000 of stolen goods, or working with specialists to help businesses cut their bills. So far this scheme has helped make about £55,000 of savings.

Mr Lowson added that events that brought people into the city, such as the Micklegate Soap Box Challenge, Fossgate Festival and the Christmas lights and market, were among the highlights of the year. “Bloom brought a real feelgood factor, it showed how you can do things differently in the city,” he said.

But keeping the streets clean, making the city look good and addressing the issue of empty shops have all been part of the team’s workload this year.