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Guildford businesses vote YES to second term of the BID

7th November 2017

Guildford businesses have voted in favour of a second, five-year term of the Business Improvement District (BID), Experience Guildford. The outcome of the Guildford BID ballot was revealed at 4pm on Friday 3 November by Guildford Borough Council, the Ballot Holder. The overall result was 85% in favour by number of businesses, 90% in favour by rateable value, with a turnout of 54%.

Over the last five years, Guildford businesses have collectively invested over £2.5 million through the payment of an annual levy to deliver services and projects to enhance the trading environment, creating a prosperous and exciting destination for shoppers, staff, residents and visitors to the town.

Experience Guildford was originally founded in 2013 following the town’s first BID ballot. During the initial five-year term, Experience Guildford introduced a number of successful campaigns and projects that responded to the key objectives of the BID members business plan, centring on making Guildford a safer, cleaner, better promoted and thriving place to live, work and play. These included initiatives such as the introduction of Guildford Town Rangers, the purchase and installation of new Christmas lights, design and delivery of the Guildford Customers Service Awards and the promotion of free parking to coincide with key dates in the retail calendar.

The second term of the BID will begin on 1 February 2018 with the roll-out of a new business plan as agreed and voted for by BID members. Key activities and initiatives highlighted for the next five years include; a sustained and enhanced destination marketing and events campaign, improved business support and training, strengthening of Guildford’s position as one of the safest and most welcoming towns in the south-east and improving the town’s accessibility and footfall.

In the meantime, the Experience Guildford team are busy preparing the town for the festive season ahead, with the annual Guildford Christmas light switch-on event taking place Thursday 16th November, the launch of the popular Little Book of Offers and the roll-out of free parking initiatives to coincide with late night shopping dates during the run-up to Christmas.

Commenting on the successful ballot win, Amanda Masters, general manager of Experience Guildford said;

“We are delighted by the results of the recent BID ballot and proud to be supporting Guildford and the retail and leisure businesses within it for a further five years. Experience Guildford would like to thank all of our BID members for their efforts and commitment to ensure that Guildford maintains its position as the premier shopping and leisure destination in the south east. The next 5 years represent a new and exciting chapter for Experience Guildford and our BID members, as we build upon our achievements to date and continue our pledge to work tirelessly in the pursuit of excellence and prosperity for the future of our town.”

For more information on Experience Guildford and to read the full business plan for the next five years, visit www.experienceguildford.com