Brackmills businesses BID for success

Businesses which have been active with the Brackmills Estate Group have taken the unanimous decision to develop a Business Improvement District (BID). The BID will enable them to build upon the success already realised through them working with Northamptonshire Enterprise Ltd in securing funding for improvements to signage and road markings.

 

A BID is a partnership between a local authority and the local business community to develop projects and services that will benefit the trading environment within the boundary of a clearly defined commercial area. BIDs allow businesses within the area to vote on which additional services they want to invest in to improve their trading environment. If a majority, both by number and by rateable value, approves the proposal, all ratepayers will contribute through their business rates.

 

The BID Shadow Board has been formed and is driving the development of the business plan which will be voted on in March next year. The BID Shadow Board is supported by Northamptonshire Enterprise Ltd, Northamptonshire County Council, Northampton Borough Council and Northamptonshire Police. Currently Ian Ferguson, Director of Partnerships for Better Business Ltd, is helping the BID Shadow Board identify current services provided into the estate, survey businesses and their employees to understand the key issues which affect their ability to operate effectively on the estate and pull together the business plan to address these concerns and develop their ideas.

 

If the Brackmills businesses vote in favour of the plan presented to the, the Shadow Board, chaired by John Corrigan of IPSL and comprising businesses from across the estate, will become the board of the new BID company charged with the responsibility of delivering the plan over the next five years.

 

A key emphasis emerging from this work is that the businesses want to re-establish Brackmills as one of Britain's premier Industrial Estates.

 

Charlotte Patrick - Sector Development Manager at Northamptonshire Enterprise Ltd said: "As individual companies there is a limit to what can be achieved when they are working alone or as an informal group. However a BID is a powerful mechanism which will give businesses the ability to address issues that affect them and work as a representative body in its own right when working with partner organisations."

 

For more information on the Brackmills BID please email: charlotte.patrick@northamptonshireenterprise.ltd.uk