BID Information

E-bulletins
Publications
Contact us
To contact any of the Partnership Solutions team running the London BIDs programme please email contact@londonbids.info

Adobe Acrobat PDF file format, if you not have this on your system

Click here to download
Home E-bulletins London BIDs update Issue 49 October 2009
London BIDs update Issue 49 October 2009 PDF Print E-mail
  • Nationwide BID Survey 2009
  • London BIDs website
  • Free business seminars by PwC and LDA
  • Obituary

    • Nationwide BID Survey 2009

    At the Annual British BIDs Conference, Prof Jim Berry, University of Ulster; Andy Godfrey, Alliance Boots Plc and Dr Julie Grail, British BIDs presented the findings from the third nationwide survey of BIDs in Britain.
    The survey has been carried out by a joint research team comprising Alliance Boots, British BIDs and the University of Ulster.

    The research has been supported by a variety of organisations with an interest in BIDs including the
    British Retail Consortium
    The Inter Bank Rating Forum
    The British Urban Regeneration Association
    The Confederation of British Industry
    The Federation of Small Businesses
    The British Property Federation.

    Jim presented on the procedural aspects of the survey identifying the need for a comprehensive nationwide perspective on BIDs to provide an in-depth assessment of BIDs across the UK/Ireland. Benchmark performance on annual basis; to raise pertinent issues which BIDs face; and to facilitate key stakeholders in decision making.

    The research team received a response from 68 out of 87 BIDs (response of 78%) and the intention is to maximise the response rate going forward.

    Andy spoke from a business perspective and highlighted issues including: the levy rate (59% of non-industrial BIDs have a levy rate of 1%); the majority of BIDs demonstrate some degree of voluntary contribution from their shopping centre owner; there is a multi-faceted approach to set-up funding and in particular the examples in Scotland, East Midlands and London should be commended.

    It is essential that BIDs continue to look for innovative ways of securing additional funding; there is variable practice concerning the annual collection charge and some are proving unacceptably high; and development of cash-saving initiatives in BIDs is going to prove increasingly important.

    Julie raised a number of points within a policy context including: formal challenges to the BID process appear to be few and far between but evidence suggests challenges are more prevalent when turnout is low.

    Variation procedures do exist in many BIDs with the management board holding ultimate responsibility but some BIDs are still failing to put appropriate measures in place; some examples of non-compliance to baseline agreements were witnessed within the survey and it was found this stemmed from a lack of transparency and responsibility in drawing up the agreement.

    Finally the findings from the £50,000 RV threshold test within the research suggests that the introduction of Business Rate Supplement in areas without a BID offset could have a significant negative effect.
    For copies of the survey please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


    London BIDs website

    London BIDs website has an attractive, new design and several new features..

    The homepage includes an outline of the London BIDs programme and contact information.

    The award winning BID Toolkit, providing vital information for those considering, developing and managing a BID, of course remains an integral part of the site.  Each of the four phases of the Toolkit (Test, Development, Campaign, Running the BID) contains downloadable tools and information sheets.  The Toolkit can be browsed in sequence or specific infomation can be located using the search function.

    The BID Locations section  can be viewed by BID area or by borough.  Each entry includes contact details and summary information about the BID, as well as downloads for the relevant BID's, BID Proposal and Annual Report documents.

    There is a new BID information section on the website.  This includes downloads of all recent London BIDs e-bulletins.  In this section you will also find a library of London BIDs publications.

    The entire site has a detailed search function to assist users in finding exactly the information they require.

    Please visit the new site and let us know what you think: www.londonbids.info


    Free "Fit for the Future" business seminars by PwC and the LDA
    Free business advice
    PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the London Development Agency (LDA) are hosting a series of three free business strategy seminars for small and medim sized businessess called "Fit for the Future".

    The first seminar on the 22 September 2009 will be on 'HR strategies to help grow your business', a forum covering ways for companies to structure their pay/bonuses/incentives to help grow their business.

    The two further topics are:
    • 19 October 2009 - Releasing cash from across your business - ways to free-up cash to give you options ranging from survival to strategic investment

    • 25 November 2009 - Accessing finance - hear about alternative sources of finance, how best to present to potential lenders to get hungry responses and review and negotiate with preferred lenders

    Each seminar will provide an opportunity for you to ask questions and network after the event.

    These seminars have been specifically put together to help equip businesses with practical strategies for succeeding in turbulent times.

    Times and Location
    The first seminar will be held on 22 September 2009 at PwC's One Embankment Place office, London, WC2N 6RH.

    Click here to register online and be assured of your free place. Places are limited and are on a first come basis.

    The seminar will begin with coffee and registration from 16:45. Presentations will begin at approximately 17:00 and finish around 18:15. This will be followed with a networking reception.

    Obituary

    Soloman are sorry to announce the untimely sudden death of Alan Thompson. After a highly successful career as MD of engineering companies, Alan was persuaded to assist the rundown Garrett Park estate
    in Wandsworth for 3 months.  After several years of part-time work he helped to transform the estate and guided them to BID status.

    The success of his work with the companies on the estate can be measured by the overwhelming "Yes" vote and the very high turnout.He will be sorely missed by all of us that worked with him.