About Nottingham BID

A Business Improvement District (BID) is an organisation which delivers a range of projects and activities in consultation with businesses within a defined geographic area. Businesses within that area vote, via a ballot, on whether they want a BID. Assuming that a BID receives a majority vote at ballot, the businesses within the area then pay a levy based on their rateable value, with that money spent on services that they believe will benefit their business and the area. BIDs are not for profit organisations.

A BID company has a maximum term of five years before businesses are balloted again to ask if they would like the BID to continue.

Nottingham BID is one of the largest BIDs in the country with almost 750 members and an annual income of around £1 million per year. Its members are businesses and organisations in the retail, leisure, office and education sectors within a defined area of Nottingham city centre – the BID Zone.

The BID’s ambition for the third term is to build a better Nottingham by collaborating and supporting some of the upcoming large scale projects – such as the reopening of Nottingham Castle and the redevelopment of the south side area of the city – to help champion Nottingham as a first choice city for shopping, leisure, work and study.

Nottingham BID is the force behind a number of successful initiatives such as Light Night, Halloween Trail, The Big Lunch, Cask Ale Trails, The Magnificent Spiegeltent and The Wise Owl Walk – all of which have helped to create a vibrant range of experiences for the local community and beyond.

The BID has also worked hard to ensure Nottingham is a safe and welcoming city centre environment through projects such as the Street Ambassadors, Street Pastors, Best Bar None, Purple Flag scheme and Grot Spot Cleansing.

It’s in Nottingham is the brand used by Nottingham BID to promote the city to consumers.  This includes delivering campaigns and events throughout the year as well as having a dedicated website and social media accounts.

The operation and management of Nottingham BID is overseen by a Board of Directors. The composition of the Board reflects the BID’s membership with Directors drawn from the retail, leisure, office and education sectors.

Nottingham BID has a designated CEO and operational team who report to the Board.

Businesses within the area shown on the map below with a rateable value of £35,000 +, are automatically made members of Nottingham BID. Members benefit from the services and campaigns outlined in the ‘What We Deliver’ section of this website, they are also eligible to vote at the ballot, which takes place every five years. At the ballot they are able to decide whether or not they wish for the BID to continue. These businesses are also given the opportunity to help shape what Nottingham BID delivers according to what is of most benefit to them. 

The BID levy in 2019 was calculated at 1.39% of the rateable value of the business premises. Businesses within Managed Centre and Charitable organisations pay 60% of this amount. The BID levy percentage increases 3% annually.

Businesses who are not automatically members of the BID can opt in to benefit from the services and campaigns the BID provides by becoming a Friend of Nottingham BID (see below).

Nottingham BID has extended many of the benefits enjoyed by its members to other businesses in the city centre by creating an Affiliate scheme. This is available to businesses whose premises fall outside the BID zone but are still within the city centre, as well as to those that are in the BID zone but whose rateable value is below the threshold for automatic membership and payment of the BID levy (currently £35,000 as of 1 April 2021).

As a Friend of Nottingham BID, businesses will be afforded the same advantages and opportunities available to existing levy payers, with the exception of an opportunity to vote at ballot. This way, business can still participate with Nottingham BID and help to shape an even brighter future for our city in a non voting capacity.

Businesses located outside the area, or inside the BID area and below the minimum rateable value of £35,000, can become a Friend of Nottingham BID for an annual cost £357.11 plus VAT for 2023. 

Find out more about becoming a Friend of Nottingham BID by emailing info@nottinghambid.com or to sign up to the scheme click here

Purpose
At Nottingham BID we ensure that the procurement of all goods and services is conducted in an honest, competitive, fair and transparent manner that delivers the best value for money* outcome, taking into account the required specification, quality, service, delivery, reliability, environmental and social issues.

Process
Nottingham BID's procurement process is defined by a series of steps for any purchase over £500; Quotations from at least three independent suppliers have to be obtained and we prioritise levy payers and Friends of Nottingham BID where suitable.

These quotations are evaluated from a cost/benefit point of view and are signed off by a Director of Nottingham BID.

*Best value for money is the result of several factors, including price, quality and experience that allow the objective selection of the best fit for purpose vendor.