Bedford

Bedford has No. 1 Town Centre Manager

4th Jul 2007

This is really a recognition of how Bedford is bucking a national trend through the BedfordBID. It celebrates how visitors to Bedford have increased by 6,000 per week whilst in other areas numbers are falling in the face of internet and out-of-town retail centres.

It is an award for the businesses of Bedford who are making it happen by supporting BedfordBID - which in turn is attracting more customers into the town. 'Other towns are losing trade, Bedford is bouyant and has many great things to come such as new developments on Castle Lane and the bus station' said Mo.

BedfordBID was launched in 2005 and was the first Business Improvement District in a county town in the whole country - even now others are largely limited to large cities. Government-approved BIDs carry the legal authority to raise a levy among businesses within a specific zone which is then adminstered by a board of elected business people. In total 800 businesses are represented by BedfordBID.

'Its about business people who know what is good for them, creating their own economic environment in which to trade -BedfordBID covers a range of activities from promotions, marketing, business development and training' added Mo.

Benefits of the BedfordBID to businesses:

*Bluecap guides who meet and greet thousands of customers every month in Bedford - as well as handing out marketing and information material about promotions and special activities;

*Live entertainment in Lime Street - a summer-long series of activities to bring people into this thoroughfare plus many more events;

*National, regional and local publicity raising the profile of Bedford as a great place to visit through newspapers, television, radio and magazines as well as ?on the buses and billboards;

*Exciting website www.comearoundtobedford.co.uk where people can find all they want to know about a day trip or shopping excursion in Bedford;

*Premier promotions such as the new Around the World in 80 Days activity which will link customers with businesses with the prospect of a fantastic first prize;

*Parking offers have been arranged to encourge increased use of the Park and Ride and discounted town centre parking during key shopping periods;

*Encouragement for small independent businesses to open up in Bedford;

*Liaison with major developers over issues like the new multi-million Bedford bus station project;

*Negotiation with local authorities for improvements which will aid trade;

*Co-ordinated and dynamic marketing approach to Bedford as a whole - via the large buying-power which BedfordBID represents for hundreds of small businesses.

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