Keighley Backs Business Improvement District
Groundwork has led the development of a new £900k Business Improvement District for Keighley. Keighley businesses have voted for a second five year term of the Business Improvement District (BID), following a ballot of 300 business premises.
First established in 2016 – 2021, following enthusiastic support from local businesses, Keighley BID was established as one of more than 300 in the UK and saw key successes such as helping to smarten up the city centre, increasing safety, boosting footfall and generating trade.
A BID is a defined area, within which businesses pay a proportional, additional levy on top of the business rates, to fund extra projects. The board which runs Keighley BID, was keen to establish a second term, working with businesses to improve trading conditions in the town, as well as working closely with Bradford Council and other partners.
Five Year Plan
Following the successful ballot, the organisation will deliver a £900,000 plan over the next five years, focussing on making the Keighley area a better place to do business and creating a positive, vibrant experience for people who visit, work and live in the town centre.
The plans focus on improving marketing Keighley as a destination, including campaigns encouraging people to shop local. The BID will also support high-impact seasonal events and festivals in the town, as well as ways to boost it with investment in new planting, banners and signage. Other priorities include a commitment to making the town safer and greener.
The Keighley BID team are a team of local business owners and managers who are committed to transforming the experience for consumers and creating a thriving town centre.
Greville Kelly, Director at Groundwork said “We are delighted that Keighley businesses have backed plans for a 2nd term BID for the town. The Keighley BID team are a team of local business owners and managers who are committed to transforming the experience for consumers and creating a thriving town centre. This Ballot result is the 29th successful BID Ballot for Groundwork, and to date Groundwork have enabled business communities to raise more than £27million of additional investment for their business environments in town centres and across business parks.”
The work the BID will undertake, is essential for a thriving economy, boosting business and creating jobs.
Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Transport and Planning Alex Ross-Shaw said: “Keighley BID has an ambitious plan that addresses the top priorities of businesses in the town. We are keen to support local businesses helping to deliver on the priorities around sustainable, inclusive and economic growth. The work the BID will undertake, which complements the work of the Council, is essential for a thriving economy, boosting business and creating jobs.”
Simon Blondel, Chair of the Keighley BID said “The whole BID team are thrilled with today’s news, the result is a strong vote of confidence from businesses in our proposal for a BID in Keighley. We are now looking forward to mobilising the Keighley BID in the coming months and driving forward a strong business led agenda for change and transformation across the town centre.”
In order to ensure the second term, Keighley BID secured the backing of the majority of businesses, both in terms of votes cast and their collective rateable value.
More details
For more details, including an online copy of Keighley BID’s Business Plan 2023-2028 for its second term, please visit: www.keighleybid.com