Bradford BID has been given a glowing report by independent experts, half-way through its first five-year term.

Consultants called in to assess the progress of the city’s Business Improvement District (BID) – the limited not-for-profit company funded by more than 600 levy-paying businesses and organisations to help promote and develop the city centre – say BID levy-payers are “both considerably aware and considerably satisfied” with its work.

They say good progress has been made against most of Business Plan objectives, the BID communicates well with levy-payers and is focused on efficient delivery of the Business Plan.

BID chairman Ian Ward said: “We commissioned independent experts Heartflood to survey BID businesses to find out what they think and to thoroughly review our progress against the targets we set in our Business Plan.

“It was not as straightforward as it might have been, given that the Covid-19 pandemic dominated much of the period, meaning many projects were curtailed and some postponed indefinitely.

“Despite that, this is a highly encouraging and positive report which points the way ahead. We are never complacent and this review will stimulate us to redouble our efforts to do the best we can for Bradford city centre and those who do business here.”

The findings of the survey, conducted by Heartflood, showed approximately 70 per cent of respondents thought the BID had resulted in either some impact or considerable impact on the city centre its first two-and-a-half years and that less than 10 per cent felt it had had either a low impact or no impact.

BID manager Jonny Noble said: “Bradford BID is steadily gaining a reputation as one of the best of its type in the UK, where there are now more than 330 active BIDs in place.

“The independent review was carried out last year when the BID also became one of the first in the country to achieve prestigious recognition for its high standards, when it was awarded the BID Foundation’s kitemark.”

“We were incredibly proud to be awarded this recognition, especially as we’d only been in operation for two years at the time of assessment.

“We were determined, when we set up Bradford BID, to ensure that it was run as professionally and efficiently as possible so that our levy-payers would know they could trust us to use our income wisely and with their best interests at heart at all times – and this mid-term review shows we’re on the right track.”