FAQs

A Business Improvement District (BID) is a business-led and business-funded not-for-profit organisation formed to deliver improvements through additional services to a defined commercial area. The first BID commenced in January 2005. Now there are over 300 across the UK. BIDs operate for a maximum of five years within the legislative framework. If they wish to continue they must go through a renewal ballot process to secure another BID term of up to five years. The Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID represents 436 businesses and organisations in an area spanning 75 streets. The businesses pay an annual levy to create a combined pot of funding, ring-fenced for use in the BID area, to guarantee core service delivery and deliver an ambitious business plan to transform Stoke-On-Trent City Centre – improving experiences, standards and adding value for investors, visitors, workers and residents alike.

All BIDs work to priorities as set out in their business plans which are generally formed following consultations with local businesses and stakeholders. In our case, the three priorities we work to are Place Management which focuses on projects to deliver a safer, more welcoming environment, Place Marketing which focuses on projects to improve perceptions of the city centre, engage visitors and encourage exploration of the city through various events and initiatives and Business Community Support which focuses on projects to create a strong, collaborative network of businesses through networking and training opportunities. You can find out more about what these entail by visiting the relevant pages. 

We work ambitiously to deliver projects and initiatives aligned to these three priorities to enable the City Centre to thrive through new events and to make time spent here, for visitors, business owners, employees and residents alike, a good an experience as possible. The services provided by BIDs are supplemental to those already provided by the municipality.

The Ambassadors are funded and supported by the Council for the first two years, after which the BID will take on full responsibility for the scheme for the remainder of the five-year BID term. Stoke-on-Trent Council is also responsible for collecting the levy from eligible businesses within the BID area. However, although we do work closely with the local authority, Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID is a separate entity and it is important to note that BIDs do not replace existing council services. BID money cannot be used to subsidise council services and is spent on services additional to those already being offered by the Council.

Any eligible business within the defined BID area with a rateable value of over £12,000 must pay into the BID regardless of the way they voted. Once a ballot is passed, it becomes government legislation to pay the levy which is collected annually over the 5-year term. All levy monies are ring-fenced for expenditure within the BID area only for projects aligned to the three priorities. Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID consists of over 400 levy-paying businesses, contributing over £400,000 to the BID.

Yes. The ratepayer for an unoccupied property is also liable to pay a BID levy.

In order for a BID to be established, a ballot of eligible business with rateable value of over £12,000 within the defined BID area listed on the local Billing Authority’s Rating database has to be held. For the BID ballot to be successful, two requirements must be met:

1. A majority of those who vote must have voted yes.
2. The total rateable value of those businesses which vote yes must exceed the rateable value of those which vote no.

The vote for Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID took place in July 2018 with 83% in favour by number and 79% in favour by rateable value.

If your enquiry is about payment or the amount you are charged then you should contact the Council. However, if your enquiry is about the BID services, please contact Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID at hello@stokeontrentbid.co.uk or 07944210428.