Businesses across Manchester city centre have voted in support of continuing the city’s Business Improvement District (BID) for another five-year term.
Manchester BID’s new term, alongside the recently announced Manchester Accommodation BID, will see an additional £6million a year invested into the city centre from 2023.
In a resounding statement of support for the organisation and its work over the last ten years, 42% of the total electorate voted with a majority of the existing membership voting positively. Voting was also expanded this year to incorporate 200 offices, growing the BID’s footprint in the city, and evolving its cross-sector membership.
In recent years Manchester BID has played an instrumental role in the city’s recovery post-Covid and brings city centre businesses together with key authorities including Manchester City Council, Marketing Manchester, Transport for Greater Manchester, and Greater Manchester Police – alongside many delivery, creative and media partners.
As well as funding a team of City Hosts (Tourist Information Officers), the BID has developed, and now annually delivers, some of the city’s most exciting public events, driving additional footfall, spend and positive PR for the city centre. Events include the recent Festive Sundays, Manchester Flower Show, Halloween in the City, student shopping events in partnership with Manchester Arndale, and the city’s popular Chinese New Year celebrations in collaboration with the Federation of Chinese Associations of Manchester (FCAM).
In its next term, which will commence in April 2023, the BID will continue to support businesses through its operational and lobbying services, attract visitors, shoppers, and workers into the city centre through its annual events calendar, and continue to deliver regional, national, and international promotional campaigns.
The BID will also deliver on a substantial regular programme of street cleaning and environmental improvements to continue to enhance the city centre, and with its expanded membership will now represent the whole central business community and work in its best interests.
BIDs are defined geographical areas where businesses work together and invest in agreed services, initiatives and special events and are financed by a levy made based on rateable value. They operate in most cities and towns across the UK. In its new term, Manchester BID, which is managed by The City Centre Management Company, CityCo, will bring together 600 businesses including retail, hospitality, and offices, spanning Deansgate, King Street, Cross Street, St Ann’s Square, Market Street, New Cathedral Street, Manchester Arndale, Spring Gardens, Fountain Street and more.
Vaughan Allen, Chief Exec of CityCo and Manchester BID, said: “Manchester BID has been key to the recovery of the city post-Covid, with events like Manchester Flower Show, Halloween and our recent Festive Sundays driving the city centre visitor economy forward. These events, alongside our major programme of street cleaning and general uplift of the public realm, have been well received.
“We have also co-secured the new Manchester Accommodation BID, and so have been instrumental in developing new revenue streams worth nearly £6 million a year to Manchester city centre from 2023.
“It shows the commitment of the private sector to ensuring Manchester remains the most vibrant, interesting, and compelling destination in the country. We’re delighted to have played our part in developing and delivering all of this for Manchester city centre.”
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester Business Improvement District is helping to add to the vibrancy of our city centre, attracting visitors through events such as Halloween and Chinese New Year celebrations and supporting jobs and other opportunities. We look forward to continuing to work with the BID over the next five years as we strive to make our internationally-recognised city centre even more exciting and inclusive.”
Jane Sharrocks, Manchester BID Chair and General Manager of Selfridges Exchange Square, said: “We’re delighted to continue the BID’s work for a third term which will allow us to build on our popular calendar of events whilst delivering more operational services for our members to enhance the city centre trading environment. The BID has created a real sense of community for our retailers and hospitality businesses, enabling us to work collectively to help make Manchester a vibrant and exciting city to visit, work and live.”
More information can be found at manchesterbid.com.
