Your say / Business
‘It’s not every day a city gets the chance to reset its future’
Until July 3, every eligible city centre business has the opportunity to vote ‘yes’ for a stronger, united Bristol Business Improvement District.
Your vote will shape how we invest in safety, sustainability, events and support across our city. This is your moment to make it happen.
It’s not every day a city gets the chance to reset its future; to reshape how it speaks, works and grows together. But that’s exactly what’s in front of us right now.
is needed now More than ever
As we’re now in the ballot period for the proposed new Bristol BID, I want to speak directly to our business community.
Because this has always been, and will continue to be, a business-led initiative.
Everything we’re putting forward has come from your feedback, your priorities and your aspirations for a city that works better for everyone.
This isn’t the easy option. Uniting three well-established BIDs – Bristol City Centre, Broadmead and Redcliffe & Temple – into a single, cohesive organisation is bold and complex.
But it’s the right move.
It’s about amplifying what already works, not starting over – and unlocking new scale, new efficiencies and new ambition.
We’re not bringing in a new team. It’s the same experienced, passionate group who know the streets, understand the challenges and believe in the potential of Bristol.
What changes is how we work: we’re removing boundaries, uniting our voice and acting as one for the benefit of the entire city centre.
As we grow, we remain agile and responsive – able to scale our efforts in line with the priorities set by our business community.
This flexible approach ensures we can continue to deliver value, without compromising on quality or presence, wherever and whenever it’s needed most.
We’ve listened closely to what businesses want: better coordination, stronger representation and more visible results.
Whether it’s attracting footfall with nationally-recognised events like Bristol Light Festival, delivering enhanced safety in the night-time economy or bidding for major industry conferences – the ambition is real and the delivery will be too.
The new Bristol BID would unlock more than £18m of investment across five years, directly funding four core themes:
- safe and supported communities
- clean and welcoming
- sustainable and green
- experiences and promotion
From targeted cleansing and street safety teams to placemaking, business training, citywide PR and seasonal activations – this is about tangible, everyday improvements that make a difference to the people who live in, work in and visit our city.
Just as important as where we invest is how we decide. That’s why governance under the new BID will be more inclusive than ever.
We’re launching open, themed working groups, so levy-paying businesses can shape priorities, funding and delivery.
Bristol Light Festival is a business improvement district project that is now an annual highlight – photo: Rob Browne
Whether you’re a retailer in Cabot Circus, a restaurateur at the Harbourside or in the knowledge sector in Redcliffe, your voice will be heard – and will count.
This isn’t just about local benefit; it’s about Bristol’s place on the national stage. A unified BID strengthens our hand in government conversations, in tourism and investment bids and in cross-sector partnerships that create long-term value for our economy.
Let’s look at this as a unique opportunity. Because we have the chance to evolve.
Our existing structure has served us well but by coming together under one stronger and more unified approach, we can amplify our impact, sharpen our purpose and deliver even greater value for the city and our businesses.
So what happens next?
Every eligible business will now have received a ballot paper. By voting Yes and posting your ballot paper back by June 27 (ahead of the count on July 3), you help shape a future with stronger investment, more effective delivery and a louder voice for Bristol.
Your ‘yes’ vote means:
- more support and visibility for your sector
- greater collective influence in the city and beyond
- bigger and better events, campaigns and partnerships
- cleaner streets, safer spaces, greener places
This is your BID. Your city. Your future. Let’s build it – together, as one city.
This is an opinion piece by Steve Bluff, director of Redcliffe & Temple BID and BID lead for the new Bristol BID proposal
Steve Bluff managed the Broadmead BID before becoming director of the Redcliffe & Temple BID – photo: Plaster
Main photo: Martin Booth
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