Exeter BID launches new website

As the Exeter Business Improvement District (BID) reaches the next stage in its campaign, a brand new website is being launched that is a one stop shop for news, case studies and information about the proposed BID for Exeter. 

The website will also play host to the BID business plan which will show businesses in the BID area what the proposed initiative’s funds could be spent on.

The website will play a key part to the campaign, ensuring voters and others in the BID area will be able to obtain all the information needed to make an informed vote early in 2015.

The Exeter Business Improvement District Company is now starting to explore options with businesses within the city centre with a view to design, plan, manage and deliver a Business Plan that reflects their business priorities to take the city centre forward for the next five years.

A survey has been created for businesses within the Exeter BID area to put ideas forward in order to find out what their main priorities for the city centre are and to help develop a Business Plan for the future.

The BID is an initiative that would see £485,000 raised annually for Exeter via a 1% levy on annual business rates.  Unlike business rates, which go straight to central Government, these funds would stay within the BID area and be spent by the businesses within Exeter.

This pot of money will act as seed corn to attract other funds to spent exclusively in the BID area. In addition there will initiatives that will save money for businesses in the BID area through, for example, collective purchasing and bulk buying.

A total of  641 business rate-payers within the proposed BID area are eligible to vote on the Business Plan early next year. The document will be released to voters and will be available online at the end of  2014.

If you would like to take part in the BID survey, please visit www.exeterbid.com

If you wish to know more about Exeter BID, please contact Jennifer Byrne, Exeter BID Company, 4-5 Southernhay West, Exeter, EX1 1JG or via email at info@exeterbid.co.uk