26th Mar 2008
Bedford College is backing businesses in Bedford by deciding to buy all its student gift vouchers from the BedfordBID.
The College spends nearly £50,000 each year on shopping vouchers which are given as prizes, rewards or support funding for students and staff who excel in different areas. Previously the College used vouchers which could be redeemed only in national stores - now BedfordBID vouchers will mean that money is directed back into the very local economy.
“Bedford College is working more closely than ever with the local community and businesses,” said College Principal Ian Pryce, who is a founding member of the BedfordBID board,
“So it makes sense that we support our local town centre economy in this way.”
Bedford College has 14,000 students and 600 members of staff. Crowds of them cross over the Town Bridge from the riverside college campus every weekday to spend, spend, spend.
Here Ian Pryce is pictured with BedfordBID Bluecaps and College Student Ambassadors with some of the vouchers.
Mo Aswat, Executive Director of BedfordBID, says: “The support of Ian Pryce and Bedford College since the start of the BID has been fantastic. We welcome the business brought into the town by students and staff. The College joining the voucher scheme is another huge boost for the BID.”
BedfordBID shopping vouchers are accepted in hundreds of small independent shops in the town centre - as well as participating larger stores. They were launched before Christmas 2007 via the Bedford Tourist Information Centre in the Old Town Hall, St Paul’s Square - and business is booming.
BedfordBID was formed three years ago to support business in Bedford and is funded by a levy paid by town centre shops and offices.
The added benefit will be that Bedford College will accept BedfordBID vouchers as payment for courses - so if someone wants to know what to buy another for their birthday or Christmas they can help them sign up for a new career through training or a new interest though an evening class by buying them a BedfordBID voucher. Equally businesses could use them as part of their corporate incentive schemes.
More details on www.comearoundtobedford.co.uk
