10 years of LeedsBID sees £17m investment in Leeds city centre

October 2024 marks 20 years since the anniversary of the first business improvement district pilot, with £1bn invested in local services and events to improve towns and cities for communities and business.

The original pilot saw 20 BIDS formed, with the UK regulations act brought into law the following year. Using a model from Canada, Business Improvement Districts allowed for businesses to have access to additional services, like street cleaning, improving the environment and public realm, or events and activity to increase footfall and animation.

Now there are over 340 UK BIDs, with LeedsBID the largest multi-sector BID outside of London. Currently, BIDs invest £152m in local economies across the country, helping to support investment in towns and cities at a time when public sector funding has been impacted by budget cuts across a range of departments.

Now in its 10^th year, LeedsBID brings an annual investment of £2.5m to Leeds city centre, through its projects, events, and activities. Its establishment in 2015 reflected a shared ambition to develop and grow the city centre and a drive to put Leeds on the map.

Now representing over 900 businesses, it is the city’s largest business voice and works collaboratively to make new things happen in the city centre for the benefit of all who use it. From its street teams improving the look and feel of Leeds city centre to its array of innovative animations and events, LeedsBID is transforming Leeds for the better.

Evaluation over the last 9 years of its free street animations, with the recent success of Monopoly Leeds Takeover, has resulted in increased city centre footfall which has generated millions in additional value for the local economy.

“A very Happy 20^th Birthday to UK Business Improvement Districts.  BIDs remain an integral and essential component in the management of our town and cities, bringing businesses together for collective good. LeedsBID is pleased to celebrate its 10^th year as the largest multi-sector business improvement in the UK outside of London.”

Michele Wilby, Co-Chair The BID Foundation and CEO of Colmore BID said :

“20 years is a significant milestone in the relationship between the management and development of the public realm and between the public and private sector. BIDs are a key mechanism to enable businesses to have a greater role in the animation, the narrative and the appearance of their towns and city centres.

 Investment and placemaking go hand in hand. For BIDs, it’s about everyone working together and everyone feeling they have a say – that’s what creates successful places.”