This week marks the start of Manchester Business Improvement District’s 10th year, and a new term. We have raised and invested over £12m in making the city centre a more resilient, vibrant and successful place.

The pandemic proved how inter-connected the city is, and following the successful legal in ballot in December, we now welcome the office sector into Manchester City Centre BID, alongside retailers and hospitality operators.

The BID was inaugurated in 2013, and we’ve launched a whole range of initiatives to assist levy payers and improve the city centre. The next term will continue to support businesses around these key themes: attracting visitors, environment, community and ESG.

The City Centre BID will also work alongside Manchester’s new Accommodation BID (https://lnkd.in/eE-fJ7e8), collectively generating £22m for the city centre, over the next 5 years.

2023-28 City Centre BID Business Plan

Services and Highlights

Our City Hosts have worked since launch, guiding visitors around the central retail district and acting as a liaison point between the BID team, retailers, restaurants and offices.

• 2500 business visits/year
• 500 street environmental reports/month to the council

Our clean team with partners Adept Corporate Services and Ramora is helping deliver a welcoming customer environment in the BID area, and responds to business needs.

• 30,000 sq m of pavement has been deep-cleaned in the past year
• 500,000 pieces of chewing gum removed annually from the commercial district
• 2 tonnes + of extra waste litter-picked and removed from the commercial district
• 15 service boxes, 25 street signs and 50 lampposts re-painted by the team

Our partnership operations, security and Action Counters Terrorism (ACT Awareness) training ensures the latest public and business safety guidance is delivered to the BID community.

• 1000 city centre staff have now been ACT trained

Our annual Mystery Shopping Awards celebrate the BID’s leading stores, banks, jewellers, and hospitality venues. Surveys are completed by Storecheckers and the BID gathers to toast success.

• 700+ businesses have scored ‘outstanding results’ since launch
• 190 businesses scored over 80% at the 2022 awards
• 2000+ mystery shop visits and reports distributed since launch

Our monthly City Centre Performance Briefing allows BID networks to stay up to date with the latest city intel, footfall & sales trends, transport, Council, Police updates – and major events coming up that will affect business.

Our Manchester BCRP (Business Crime Reduction Partnership) supports the BID in tackling business-related crime and anti-social behaviour. We manage a Day/Night security radio network, supply real-time intelligence and deliver security training.

Our Lloyds House Event & Meeting Spaces are stunning meeting rooms, offered at a discount to BID members. The venue has stunning heritage features from its past as one of Manchester’s original cotton-packaging warehouses.

Our Ops Team are on-hand daily to assist with the opportunities and challenges of running a business in the city. Since launch, we have helped set-up outdoor F&B spaces and assisted around graffiti, waste, bollards, deliveries, road closures, protests, critical incidents, Covid +++

Our network is represented with city stakeholders and public agencies via forums, neighborhood committees and action groups. The BID is a constant corporate champion and builds relationships, shares best practice and works on trading improvements.

Our nominated charity is Real Change MCR and the cross-organisational work being done to support people experiencing street homelessness in the city centre. We sit on the MHP, deliver business forums and support BID members with fundraising.

Our public events calendar has bought animation, customers and positive PR to the city centre. We’ve hosted 40+ events since launch, gaining £24.3m in national press coverage. From Vogue Fashion’s Night Out to Dig the City, Halloween to Chinese New Year, The King Street Festival to Manchester Flower Festival, MCR Student Socials to Festive Sundays – and celebrations for Bee in the City and Manchester Day.

With thanks to all our networks, partners and suppliers.

“MANCHESTER BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT IS A CRITICAL PART OF THE FABRIC OF OUR CITY, HAVING RAISED OVER £12 MILLION OVER THE PAST DECADE TO INVEST IN MAKING THE CITY CENTRE A MORE VIBRANT, RESILIENT, AND SUCCESSFUL PLACE.” Cllr Bev Craig, Leader, Manchester City Council

“WE ALWAYS TAKE PART IN BID FESTIVALS. WE’VE HAD MONSTER TENTACLES ON THE ROOF FOR HALLOWEEN, STUNNING FLORAL DISPLAYS IN THE SQUARE, THOUSANDS OF LANTERNS IN THE TREES AND A CHINESE NEW YEAR GIANT PIG AND TIGER. THE PR IS FANTASTIC. WE CAN’T WAIT FOR ANOTHER FIVE YEARS OF FUN.”  Tim White, Building Manager, Royal Exchange

Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District is a consortium of 600+ retailers, restaurants and office operators. You can contact us by email: info@manchester.com

The City Centre BID is now joined by the Manchester Accommodation BID: a consortium of hoteliers. For more information go manchesterabid.com

Follow us on LinkedIN