We’d like to thank everyone who came along to the meeting on Tuesday 1st October to discuss plans to develop a Haslemere Business Improvement District (BID), a five year transformation scheme that will unlock funding to spend on projects backed by the business community to enhance Haslemere’s commercial prospects.
More than 35 local business people attended our meeting to hear more about the process and the experiences of other successful BID areas in Caterham and Oxted. After a show of hands at the end of the evening, attendees gave the green light to go ahead with the project.
Chamber President Craig McGowan said: “I’m delighted that so many local business people came to the meeting and were enthusiastic about the idea of a BID for Haslemere; it’s given us the impetus to drive this project forward over the next few months. With a February deadline looming, we’re asking local businesses to get involved on our BID ‘task force’ to develop ideas and projects that we can put forward as part of BID business plan. Many hands make light work, and there’s a breadth and depth of experience and ideas amongst the business community that we want to draw on. Ultimately, we want to develop a business plan that reflects their priorities and interests – and we need their help to do this.”
“We’re also grateful to Waverley Borough Council for their support and are looking forward to working with them to bring the BID submission to life”.
Attendees at the meeting heard that BIDs are good for local businesses – they’ve brought in over £300 million of new finance across the UK to develop business centres over the last 15 years and around 90 percent of BID areas reapply for BID status after the five years have elapsed, demonstrating how valuable local business have found the scheme.
You can find out more about the meeting and view the presentation on our BID page here.
Local businesses who would like to get more involved in BID or become a member of the ‘task force’ should contact Craig at: president@haslemerechamber.co.uk.