Meet the Team

Worcester Business Improvement District is a business-led and business-funded body, working to improve and promote Worcester city centre as a place to live, work, visit and invest.

Following a successful renewal ballot, the second five-year term of Worcester BID started on 1^st April 2015 and will run until 31st March 2020.

The results of the 28-day postal ballot for which 643 businesses were asked to vote were 65% by number and 71% by aggregate rateable value supporting a second BID term. There was a 50.2% turnout with 323 businesses voting.

To view the BID2 Business Plan please click here.

Worcester BID is now seeking a third term and will be going to ballot from 3^rd to 31^st October 2019. You can learn more about our plans for the third term by clicking here.

As a democratically elected, independent body, Worcester BID enables more than 600 businesses to work collectively to influence and impact on how Worcester city centre is managed and develops.

We are a Company limited by guarantee Registration No. 07188738 and operate under The Business Improvement Districts (England) Regulations 2004.

Further FAQ’s regarding BIDs and the ballot are answered here.

Worcester BID activity is delivered over and above the projects and baselined service levels provided by public agencies including the Local Authority.

The projects and services which will be delivered during the five-year BID period are agreed and set out in Worcester BID’s 2015 -2020 Business Plan (and for the future 2020-2025 Business Plan).

Key performance indicators (KPIs) are defined and performance is monitored by the Worcester BID Board and respective committees

The annual budget is approved through the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors receive regular advice regarding the review and evaluation of projects from the management team prior to making further decisions on spend or reprofiling of expenditure.

The annual BID levy payment invoice is accompanied by a billing leaflet outlining what projects and services the BID will be spending the levy on. Click here to view a copy of the 2019 billing leaflet.

The BID is managed by The Worcester BID Company Limited (the ‘Company’), a not for profit company (company number 07188738) registered in England, limited by guarantee.

The BID is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors  from a range of sectors and organisations in the BID area. The Board is made up of representatives of levy paying member businesses who will be elected with one third required to stand down annually on a rotating basis but who may seek re-election. Additional members may be co-opted, as required. Each year, the Board members elect a Chairman from members of the Board.

The BID Board advises on operational and service delivery issues, oversee performance measurement, and more generally act as the primary consultative and advisory body on BID services. It has responsibility for financial arrangements, contractual obligations, human resources, standards and compliance, and strategic direction.

Provided that the BID is meeting its overall objectives, the BID Board shall have the ability to vary service delivery and expenditure allocation according to the changing demands of levy payers.

Levy payers’ views are regularly sought through feedback (project feedback forms, Mid Term Review, BID3 consultation, etc.), forums (e.g. City Sessions) and individual meetings.

• Face to face business visits – Scheduled and ad hoc. Request a visit
• City Sessions – dedicated meetings for BID levy paying businesses every 6-8 weeks. Dates are published here and announced via e-Bulletins and social media
• Fortnightly e-newsletters – View and sign up here
• Weekly & Monthly Footfall reports – View and sign up here
• Surveys – By post and online. Send us your email address or alternative postal address to be included in the BID database
• Direct emails – For project specific engagement and as a response to enquiries
• Post – Major surveys, consultations, ballot papers and other key documentation are sent out by post. We hold postal addresses for all BID business. Should any contact details have changed or an alternative / head office address be used, please contact us
• Phone – Where details are available, we contact businesses by phone as a response to an enquiry or for future engagement
• Social Media – We use Worcester BID Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for B2B communications. For B2C communication we use Visit Worcester Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
• Websites – www.worcesterbid.com for BID businesses and stakeholders – including annual reports, event announcements and news.  Visit Worcester is our consumer marketing channel (in partnership with Worcester City Council).
• The Worc Social magazine (quarterly magazine) – View here
• CityNet and project meetings – View information

This map shows the geographical BID area. Please note that those properties which abut the outer boundary are included within the BID area. If you are not sure if your business lies within the BID area, please contact us.

The BID levy is charged at 1.5% (1% for managed shopping centres) of rateable value of each hereditament within the BID area that has a rateable value of £7,500 rateable value (RV) or more on the prevailing rating list. Businesses below this threshold are exempt from paying the levy. To look up your non-domestic property’s RV, please go to www.voa.gov.uk.

The annual BID levy payment invoice is accompanied by a billing leaflet outlining what the BID is, how the levy is calculated and how it will be spent. Click here to view a copy of the 2019 billing leaflet.

Please note that the BID levy is not the same as business rates and that business rate relief has no implications on the BID levy. For details about business rates, please click here.

Enquiries about payments and accounts can be made by contacting:

South Worcestershire Revenues & Benefits Shared Service (SWRBSS)
Civic Centre, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Pershore, WR10 1PT
Email: revenues@southworcestershirerevenues.gov.uk
Telephone: 01386 565306

We are delighted you have chosen Worcester city centre to locate your business and look forward to working with you in creating a trading environment which will help your venture prosper.

The aim of the Worcester BID is to deliver a series of initiatives and services in Worcester city centre that will raise the profile of the city, create an attractive and flourishing business environment, attract more visitors and encourage them to explore all its facilities. The Worcester BID Ltd – a not for profit company – is delivering the BID business plan and represents the interests of all BID members.

Take a look at the Welcome Pack and this website introducing you to our current projects and services.

Please contact our team to request a business visit or to discuss your interests in more detail. We look forward to working with you!