Thousands of high street and urban businesses across Surrey now have a collective voice through Surrey BIDs Together.
Surrey is currently home to 12 Business Improvement Districts (BIDs). More are likely to be created over the next five years.
Collectively, BIDs in Surrey have a combined total of 3,700 member organisations and an annual income of ยฃ2,617,000.
They are represented as a collective by the organisation โSurrey BIDs Togetherโ.ย
The group brings together representatives from the BIDs in Camberley, Caterham, Cobham, Cranleigh, Dorking, Epsom, Farnham, Godalming, Guildford, Oxted, Staines on Thames and Walton on Thames.
They meet to share ideas, discuss common themes and work through potential issues or concerns.
They also nominate a representative to sit on the Surrey Business Leaders Forum and One Surrey Growth Board. Both guide the work of Surrey County County and Business Surrey in growing the regional economy.
What are Business Improvement Districts?
Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are made up of communities of individual businesses. They recognise that having BID status delivers benefits and improvements to their local economies.ย ย
A BID is a designated zone (BID Area) in which businesses (BID Levy Payers) pay an extra charge in addition to business rates.
This allows them to benefit from a wide range of additional services over and above those funded through the standard commercial rates and council services.ย
There is no limit on what projects or services can be provided through a Business Improvement District.
The only requirement is that it should be something that is in addition to services provided by local authorities. Improvements may include extra security, cleansing, events and environmental measures.
Anyone can propose a BID. But approval is dependent on a ballot of businesses within the designated zone. For full details, visit the government website.
The aimsย of BIDs in Surrey
BIDs each have individual aims, decided by their member businesses. However they all have an underlying aim. This is to provide residents, workers and visitors with clean, safe, vibrant and attractive places, where events, culture and arts are represented and visible.ย
Members of Surrey BIDs are a mixture of retail, hospitality, professional services, education providers, public service providers and service industries. They range in size from start-up micro businesses to household name multinationals.ย ย
BIDs provide employment, goods, services and entertainment for their areas. They have a keen focus on representing their members in supporting. They also promote the sustained success and vitality of Surreyโs town centres and their local economies.ย ย
Get involved with your local BID
Surrey has a number of active BIDs which make a big contribution to their towns.
The areas with active BIDs are: Camberley, Caterham, Cobham, Cranleigh, Dorking, Epsom, Farnham, Godalming, Guildford, Oxted, Staines on Thames and Walton on Thames.ย ย
Find your local BID in our Business Support Directory.
