BUSINESSES VOTE ‘YES’ FOR A SECOND TERM OF THE SOHO ROAD BID IN BIRMINGHAM.

Soho Road Business Improvement District (BID) will continue to raise the profile and support businesses in the Handsworth Area for another five years unlocking more than £1.2million of investment for the area over the next five years.

After a busy month-long ballot period, businesses have voted yes to another five year term for Soho Road BID. 65% of businesses who voted in the ballot voted YES and 55% voted in favour by rateable Value.

Commenting on the result, Bob Balu, Chairman of Soho Road BID, who has spear headed the renewal campaign, said: “This result truly is a new and fresh opportunity for the businesses in our town centre to continue to transform the future of not only the BID area but also the whole of Handsworth. There have been a number of great individual achievements in recent years, such as our Silver Gilt award in the Heart Of England In Bloom, £100,000 worth of public realm work, the amazing development of the regionally renowned Diwali event attended by over 20,000 people, launch of The Business Crime Reduction Partnership and the development of the Ambassador Program. But this result is a strong vote by all of our businesses to choose to invest together into our shared future building upon what has already been laid down in the first five years, and keep pressing forward to see our town centre transformed. I would like to say a huge thank you for every business that took part in the voting process and all the organisations including Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Police and Andy Street Mayor of West Midlands Combined Authority who have really supported us throughout this process it was very much appreciated. There is a massive opportunity for all organisations to come together now and make sure that we are all working for the good of Soho Road BID Area and doing all we can to put the area on the map.”
Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “This is exciting news, not just for businesses in the Soho Road area but for the wider community, who will also see significant benefits from this decision.

“Overseeing economic development across Birmingham is a key part of my responsibilities as council leader, so I am delighted that the business community in Soho Road has overwhelmingly backed a second term, enabling Soho Road BID to continue growing and building on its successes.”

Diane Mansell, Soho Road BID Manager said “This is Soho Road BID Areas time and the BID team are delighted that we are going to continue to be part of it. There are so many exciting things about to happen such as focusing on implementing a number of new initiatives and projects such as increasing the number of ambassadors over a full 7 day a week program, creation of the Handsworth Hero’s Awards ceremony, development of the B21 Wedding Central branding and program of supportive street events and development of the Business Crime Reduction Partnership and activity evenings. This really is an exciting time for the BID area”

For more information on the Soho Road BID, please visit sohoroadbid.org
For further information, please contact Diane Mansell at bidmanager@sohoroadbid.org

Ballot Results are shown here – Soho Road BID CIC Result 2018 <Press Here>

Business Plan 2019-2024

Download the Low-Rez version here Soho Road – A4 Business Plan_Low Res

BID Renewal Geographical Area Map – 2019/2024 

A clearer version of the map can be downloaded here Soho Road BID Renewal Map 2019-2024

BID Rules 2019 – 2024

Download a copy of the BID Rules here Soho Road – A4 Business Plan_Low Res

Memorandum Of Understanding Between Birmingham City Councils Highways and Car Parking Departments and Business Improvement Districts Within Birmingham 

Memo of understanding 2019-2024

Baseline Cleansing Maps/ Agreement between Birmingham City Council Waste Management and Soho Road Business Improvement District

You can view the draft maps here – Baseline maps for cleansing – Draft

Draft Operating Agreement 2019-2024

This is currently only in draft format and maybe altered. It can be viewed here Operating Agreement-BID 2-Draft 3 – 11.09.2018

BID Levy Payers Consultation Review 2018 

Priorities Survey 

Copy of the Priorities Survey completed in October/ November 2017 Soho Road BID Draft Questionnaire

First stage research was undertaken over Oct and Nov 2017. All current levy payers have been given the opportunity to take part in a range of ways including a light touch survey or via 1-2-1 meetings with businesses. In total 83 businesses took part in the light touch survey (Soho road Questionnaire) (15% agreed standard in the National Industry Standards) and many more in the 1-2-1 business visits that took part in this stage of the consultation.

Background to BIDs

Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are organisations which exist to improve a localised commercial area through the provision of additional services. They most commonly exist in town and city centres.

BIDs are created as a result of commercial occupiers voting on a business plan that sets out the additional services to be provided over a five year term. If the ballot is successful, these services are funded through the BID Levy.

The first UK BID began in 2005 and there are now over 280 BIDs across the UK. Birmingham has 11 BID’s with a 12th about to be launched. The majority of these BID’s are now in their 2^nd or 3^rd term showcasing how well BID’s can work for the areas they are set up in.

Soho Road BID is currently working up a business plan which will be taken into ballot in Oct 2018. If successful the Soho Road BID will be extended for a further 5 years generating a potential 1 Million pounds worth of investment into the BID area to benefit businesses, employees, residents and visitors over the five year term.

Soho Road BID team have been researching through business consultation what services (in addition to those provided by authorities such as the council and police) you want your BID to deliver in our second term if the ballot was secured.

More info please visit British bids website on www.britishbids.info

Business Related Crime and Wider Community Safety: to establish a safe and secure town center environment for all who use it and for all business and property owners within it

Environment: to establish and maintain a high quality, attractive environment for all who visit, work or live there

Promoting Soho Road BID Area: to market and promote the BID area to shoppers, visitors and potential investors, developing a shared positive image

One Voice BID Management : to develop the BID to enable it to deliver and support a range of projects to improve the vitality and viability of the Soho Road BID area

Regeneration: to improve the business mix and regeneration in the BID area by encouraging greater development and investment