Local businesses launch Beckenham BID campaign

A host of local businesses recently celebrated the launch of a campaign aimed at setting up a Beckenham Business Improvement District (BID).

The ‘Beckenham – Together’ BID campaign will pool together money from a levy on local businesses to provide services designed to bring more customers and more spending into the area.

Businesses with a rateable value of £5,000 and over will get a chance to vote on the business plan of the BID in a ballot which opened on February 1 and will close on March 1.

Beckenham is looking to join the likes of Bromley and Orpington who both have successful BIDs in their town centre, whilst neighbouring Penge is also looking to launch their own campaign for a BID next week.

BIDs are both run and funded by local businesses. The Steering Group behind the campaign for the ‘Beckenham – Together’ BID includes representatives from a range of local businesses, such as The Beckenham Bookshop, Burger and Bubbles, AAA-MiniCabs, Creases and Gallery 17, and large businesses in the town centre such as Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, The Spa, and Link Asset Services.

‘Beckenham – Together’ are looking to deliver services such as a local loyalty scheme, a comprehensive place marketing offer for Beckenham, an expanded programme of events and assistance with a parking review in the town centre.

Jackie Groundsell, who runs the Beckenham Business Association and also acts as interim chair of the Steering Group behind the BID campaign, said: “Our town centre has faced its fair share of challenges in recent years and it’s time for local businesses to take control of its future.

“We have spent over a year speaking to local companies and traders to come up with a business plan to provide services that are designed to ensure our town centre remains the thriving social and economic heart of our community. It’s important that as many businesses as possible get out and vote in support of the BID and we don’t lose this opportunity.”

Businesses eligible to vote will receive a copy of the business plan and a voting slip in the next few weeks. Businesses can vote up until March 1.