A new business plan has been drawn up to raise the profile of the city of Leicester, create a cleaner, safer environment, and provide a strong voice for businesses.
BID Leicester, the group behind the city’s Business Improvement District, has come up with a new plan outlining its vision for the city centre over the next five years. It is business led and business-funded and every major city in the UK has a BID.
City businesses voted in a five-year term for the BID in November 2017, and it is funded by a 1.25 per cent levy on business rate payers in the city centre BID area, with a rateable value over £20,000.
During the first five-year term it played a key part in getting shoppers to feel safe to come into the city centre as lockdown restrictions eased.
The new business plan is part of the build up to another ballot this summer to determine whether there is a second team.
At the first ballot in, 85 per cent of businesses voted in support. The BID says securing another ‘yes’ vote would guarantee a £4.5 budget for Leicester over the next five years, through a partnership of over 580 businesses.
The business case also has a focus on greening and sustainability, as well as the addition of The University of Leicester as a voluntary member.
The BID said the business plan had been created after consultation with more than 350 city centre businesses.
A spokeswoman said: “The plan includes projects and initiatives which will continue to raise the profile of Leicester as a vibrant cultural destination, including a new programme of high-profile events, building on the success of other BID sponsored activity such as Light Up Leicester, Bring The Paint and BrewBeat, which had taken place in the first BID term since 2018.
“Marketing campaigns will also help to raise the profile of the city, including the promotion of independent businesses and sector specific support, such as showcasing the diversity of Leicester’s vibrant evening and night-time economy.
“Other initiatives will build upon the positive momentum achieved by the BID over the last five years to make the streets safer and cleaner, including a bespoke range of services such as additional street washing, chewing gum removal, St. Johns Ambulance medical provision on key nights throughout the year, and the uniformed street presence of BID Street Ambassadors.
“The BID’s new plan also includes a renewed commitment to providing Leicester’s city centre businesses with a strong business voice, through regular press and media appearances and positive PR opportunities.”
