BID plan to secure up to £4.5m boost

Almost 650 businesses eligible to vote will receive copies of the plan this week and asked to return their re-ballot papers by March 25 as part of the official electoral process for the BID to secure a second term, with the result announced on Friday, March 26.

Belfast One has invested almost £4m in projects during its first term after 84% of city centre businesses voted in favour of making Belfast a Business Improvement District back in 2015.

The BID, a not-for-profit body was set to promote, enhance and support city centre businesses, and the plan outlines how it will support businesses – which span retail, hospitality and professional services – for a second term from April 2021 to 2026.

Highlights of the first term included running high profile events including Belfast Restaurant Weeks and seasonal events Santa’s Post Office and outdoor Summer Cinema, to increase footfall as well as initiatives to make the city cleaner and safer and more accessible. Its Clean Team has removed over 25 tonnes of litter and more than 1,800 pieces of graffiti. Belfast One has also been the main funder of two PSNI City Centre Beat officers who have delivered over 20,000 hours of additional policing in the Belfast One area.

Managing Director of Belfast One Kathleen McBride, said: “The last year has been an incredibly challenging one for our businesses but they have proven how adaptive, reactive and resilient they can be.

“We have continued to support them by creating an information hub highlighting updates on support available, as well as an increased specialised cleaning presence by our Clean Team, with a focus on shop fronts, disinfecting and power washing.

“We have also provided free online workshops as well as running a re-opening campaign focusing on public safety and confidence in the city centre. Our most successful initiative, the Belfast City Centre gift card will continue to support our businesses during the re-opening and recovery after this lockdown.”

Mrs McBride said that the focus of the next term would be on working in partnership with key organisations, including Belfast City Council, Belfast Chamber of Commerce and the PSNI, to continue to improve the city centre and make it a more welcoming place for visitors and businesses to invest, work and relax.

She added: “We will act as an agent of change to create growth and employment and to help sustain the area as a major engine of the Belfast economy.

“Our plan is focussed on three clear elements - promote, enhance and support - for the city centre and its businesses.

“We will promote businesses by driving footfall into the city through events, promotional campaigns with partners and identifying opportunities to support evening economy.

“We will enhance the city by delivering projects which will improve the visitor experience and enable businesses to thrive in a positive trading environment with a focus on a safer, cleaner and more attractive and accessible city.

“Our support will include continued efforts to drive down business costs and providing practical support like workshops and training to all businesses within the BID area. There is also a focus on sustainability as we plan to increase recycling opportunities and offer more competitive services to our levy payers to encourage uptake.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper whenever you are able to do so.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper when you can safely.

You can also enjoy unlimited access to the best news from across Northern Ireland and the UK by subscribing to newsletter.co.uk

With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Thank you