A Business Improvement District for Birmingham City Centre Retailers

What the BID delivers

The BID does not replace services currently provided by public authorities, principally Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police. It ensures that existing services are maintained and delivered effectively and seeks service improvements where possible. An agreement between the BID and the public agencies has baselined existing services and provide for effective performance monitoring.

Retail Birmingham BID aims to meet the BID objectives by providing additional projects and services across three programmes:

  • Retail Marketing to drive trade and build a credible Birmingham retail brand in key markets
  • Street Operations to improve the customer and visitor experience
  • Business Support to create an influential retail voice and local business support network

Programmes summary:

Programme One: Retail Marketing

  • Establish the Style Birmingham brand and annual marketing package to promote the range of city centre consumer opportunities, including fashion, dining, leisure, entertainment and lifestyle. Key targets include underdeveloped local and regional markets, discerning and high spending customers, opinion formers and influencers.
  • Stage events and campaigns to support key shopping and leisure periods, including Christmas, Sundays and extended opening hours.
  • Promote the Best of Retail Birmingham Awards to recognise and promote company and employee excellence.

Programme Two: Street Operations

  • Collaborate with West Midlands Police, Retail Crime Operation and Citywatch to enhance retail theft/crime reduction measures.
  • Establish a partnership with Birmingham City Council to sustain and expand the Street Warden service.
  • Undertake special environmental clean ups‚ particularly in hotspots and in advance of key shopping periods.
  • Develop Shopping in Bloom floral dressing and introduce arts/sculpture features.
  • Provide high quality Winter/Christmas illuminations and displays.
  • Install additional signage/information points to link different shopping areas in the city centre.

Programme Three: Business Support

  • Represent and promote the interests of retail businesses
  • Provide The Retail Connection‚ a two way communications, information and troubleshooting service
  • Engage partners who can add value to the retail business community
383 project