CITY centre firms are being urged to help shape the future of Bradford's Business Improvement District.

Bradford BID has started a new consultation among businesses and organisations to help it set its priorities for a second five-year term.

The business-led and business-funded body was set up in 2018 to deliver a range of improvements to the city centre.

It was set up as a not-for-profit limited company after a successful ballot and generates around £450,000 a year towards projects aimed at boosting city centre footfall and trade, through a small levy on business rates.

The BID’s first term closes towards the end of this year and a new ballot will be held in late summer and early autumn to gauge support for a second five-year term.

Bradford BID manager Jonny Noble said: “The new five-year Business Plan is essential to set out what we hope to achieve in our second term and it’s vitally important that businesses and other organisations within the city centre BID boundary let us know what their priorities are.

“The BID is funded by businesses on behalf of businesses and their involvement in drawing up plans for the next five-year period is crucial.”

The survey of business views is open now and will be carried out over the next few weeks. Businesses can have their say online by visiting bradfordbid.co.uk/ballot-2023.

There are more than 300 BIDs across the UK and the vast majority have gone on to receive business support for a further term after their first five years.

The BID’s first five-year plan has helped drive the success of an organisation which is already regarded as one of the top BIDs in the country and has led to highlights such as the five-year street hot-washing programme, the launch of Bradford at Night, the City Centre gift card, the Super Soapbox Challenge, the huge festive fireworks display and Bradford becoming the world’s first WalkSafe city.

The original Plan set out four key pillars of activity: Clean, Safe, Alive and Promoted.

BID chairman Ian Ward said the pillars have been the foundation of everything we have achieved so far – helping them “to create the best possible experience” for those who live, work, shop and spend their leisure time in Bradford centre.

But he added: “It’s time for fresh thinking, fresh ideas and a new set of priorities and they absolutely have to be driven by the businesses and organisations who will be here helping us to live up to them.”

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