Bids in Scotland are spreading beyond town centres

Business Improvement Districts (Bids) in Scotland have brought more than £41m private sector investment to local areas since 2008, according to the second national survey, released by Bids in Scotland this week. It is estimated that their work leveraged in a further £19.6m during that period.

While many Bids are focused on improvements within town and city centres and commercial districts, there are now a growing number of themed and sector-specific Bids.

A Bid brings businesses together within an area to invest collectively in local improvements that will benefit not only their businesses but also the broader local economy. In many areas, Bids work in partnership with local authorities to develop town centres and sectors such as tourism and commerce.

There are now 36 Bids across Scotland that have brought together more than 10,000 local businesses across 22 local authority areas. It is estimated that their work has created 300 new jobs, on top of the 80 people directly employed by Bids.

Exemplar Bids across Scotland include Discover Dunblane, which has developed an Education for Life and Work programme in partnership with Dunblane High School. Businesses that are part of the Bid help school children with work experience, CV writing and interview skills.

In Glasgow the Byres Road and Lanes Bid launched the city’s first neighbourhood card, the Visit West End card, which can be used in almost 60 shops in the local area.

While many early Bids were focused on towns and cities, an increasing number of themed and sector-specific Bids are emerging.

The Visit Inverness and Loch Ness Tourism Bid is developing the tourism sector, building on the work of the Inverness Bid which runs the Inverness Street Festival, featuring Granny Turismo (pictured). The food and drink sector in East Lothian is being boosted through Scotland’s Food and Drink County. Canal Corridor and Borders Railway Corridor are other themed Bids currently in development.

Ian Davison Porter, director of Bids Scotland, the national body for Bids, said: ‘Scotland boasts an effective national policy and flexible legislation developed by the Scottish government, which means Bids are not just about place, they are about communities. The potential for sharing and mutual improvements via a Bid also includes business parks like Clacksfirst in Clackmannanshire and business clusters such as Loch Ness Inverness Tourism Bid and East Lothian Food and Drink Bid.’

• To read The National Report on Bids 2017 click here.