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Businesses urge colleagues to back the BID for five more years

Businesses in Hull city centre are speaking out in support of Hull Business Improvement District (BID).

From major national concerns to small independent operators, business managers and owners are highlighting the importance of the services provided by the BID.

Ballot papers will go out this month inviting eligible businesses to support the BID for a second five-year term.

Also being distributed is a brochure setting out the BID’s spending record so far and its plans for the future in the event of the vote being successful.

The brochure examines Hull BID’s track record in making the streets of the city centre safer and cleaner, in improving the evening economy and the range of events to attract the public, and in providing better access and signage – all as promised before BID was established.

The brochure also includes testimonials from business people who recognise that Hull BID has delivered on those promises – and who fear for the future if voters reject a second term.

Business people have also contacted media organisations themselves to raise awareness of the benefits of BID’s services, and many of them have provided supportive comments which are included below.

 “Hull BID has a very small team and a lot of work to do, delivering the improvements that make the service so worthwhile,” said Malcolm Scott, Senior Partner at Scott’s Property LLP.

“Hull BID has become accepted as something we can rely on and as such it doesn’t get the respect it deserves. During the last five years the city has come on in leaps and bounds in an incredibly difficult market and the money we pay for a clean and safe city centre is a bargain.”

 “The alternative to having a BID in Hull would be unthinkable,” said Jo Roos, of Segal’s jewellers in Paragon Arcade, Hull.

“I was against the BID when it started but I have changed my mind after looking at the alternatives. The streets are much cleaner now and to go back to a mucky, horrible city is not a nice thought.

“We all need to spread the word about what a good job BID is doing. It makes no sense at all to vote against it.”

If you have any questions about the ballot process – and if you have yet to receive a copy of the brochure – please contact Hull BID using the details below.

Hull BID by numbers

• ·         3,000 – Average number of miles walked every year by each Hull BID Support Officer on their city centre patrols.
• ·         6,000 – Pieces of Graffiti removed in five years by the Hull BID maintenance team.
• ·         80 – City centre businesses covered by the Hull BID radio security scheme.
• ·         £180,000 – Secured from Goodwin Development Trust for city centre ambassador programme.
• ·         135 – Individual businesses visited by Hull BID City Centre Manager Kathryn Shillito during 2010-11 in addition to discussions with business support groups including the Federation of Small Businesses and the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce.
• ·         2 – Hull BID is the second-biggest in the UK but has one of the smallest operations team.
• ·         49,000 – Footfall in Hull city centre for the weekend of the 2011 Hull BID Fashion Week.
• ·         20,000 – Copies of the Hull BID Dine Brochure produced to promote the city centre’s cafe bars and restaurants.
• ·         3,700 – Items of street furniture painted by the Hull BID maintenance team.

• £300,000 – Minimum value of additional security measures from PCSOs and BID Support Officers on the beat to a radio system exclusively for businesses.
• £100,000 – Christmas “presents” from private businesses and public bodies to help co-fund  a campaign of festive activities.
• £180,000 – Committed by sponsors to support the Yum! Festival of Food and Drink and its predecessor the Global Food Festival.
• £115,000 – Value of additional funding to support the Hull Comedy Festival, now established on the national circuit.
• £55,000 – Investment secured to help build Hull’s evening economy with such events as Dine Week and Half Past The Weekend.
• £700,000 – The target we set ourselves for external investment when Hull BID was launched.
• £1,000,000 – The total amount secured by Hull BID in addition to the business levy over the last five years.
• 9,000 - The additional hours worked by Police Community Support Officers in Hull City Centre and funded by Hull BID in the last five years.
• 24/7 - The radio system introduced by Hull BID provides businesses with round-the-clock access to the police and the Civic 1 CCTV system.
• 75 - The number of Selecta DNA property-marking kits distributed to businesses in the city centre by Hull BID to help combat non-domestic burglary.
• 400 - The approximate number of calls to the Hull BID hotline in the last five years from businesses requesting help to deal with anti-social behaviour.
• 14 – Pence per day is the cost of Hull BID’s services for a business with a rateable value of £5,000.

Hull BID – what our partners think

• ·         “When Hull BID was starting we were dead against it.  We thought it was just another way of getting money out of us but the more I got involved with it the more I could see that it does what it says on the tin.” – Jo Roos, Segal’s of Paragon Arcade.
• ·         “I am fully in favour of Hull BID. On one occasion we reported a problem with graffiti at 10am and it had been cleared up by midday. The whole thing is good and the cost is not a problem. It is excellent value.” - John Cheetham, Partner at Cheetham Allen Chartered Accountants in Wright Street.
• ·         “Times are tough but we are still confident in the future of Hull and St Stephens and will be continuing to invest in the scheme and the infrastructure and continuing to work closely with the BID team in the city through into a second term.” - Jim Harris, Manager of St Stephen’s Shopping Centre.
• ·         “Crime has reduced in Hull by approximately one third during the period of the first Hull BID.  These reductions have been at least replicated in the geographic area of the BID.  During a typical year the BID’s police funding enables me to operate in excess of 2000 additional hours of high visibility policing in the city centre, which has made a significant contribution to a safer community and reduced crime levels.” – Insp Lee Edwards, Humberside Police.

• “The BID system is contributing to and enhancing the partnership with Citysafe and the police in lowering crime in the city. That instils confidence in business security which in turn helps attract people and business to the city. It is a very professional system that has plenty of room to expand and is a good example of a community joining together against crime and winning.” - Tracey Harsley, Head of Hull Citysafe, sees the Hull BID radio system as a powerful crime prevention tool.
• “It was great to see all the live bands in the city centre on a Wednesday evening. It really livened-up the place. And I did like it when Hull BID helped me with advice and with removing some graffiti. That’s what I pay my subscription for and I see it as a worthwhile investment.” – Alison Penny, owner of Shine hair salon in Baker Street.
• “Hull BID is definitely worthwhile. We had some issues with graffiti and it was removed quickly, which was fantastic. It’s good to know there is someone we can contact when that happens because if we have to pay for someone ourselves to clean it up the costs escalate.” Karen Walker, Manager, Hull Townhouse, Albion Street.
• “Pepperells are a huge supporter of Hull BID. From graffiti cleaning, security detail to event organisation the BID really promote Hull city centre as an exciting investment opportunity for new businesses and thriving market for the current business economy. Kathryn and her team are doing a sterling job.” Ben Pepperell, Partner, Pepperells Solicitors, Alfred Gelder Street.
• “It is important for businesses to work together to promote Hull city centre because there is a lot of competition and these are difficult economic times. All the businesses benefit from having successful retail and leisure sectors on our doorstep.” - Malcolm Scott, Senior Partner at Scott’s Property LLP.
• “Our business is up more than 20 per cent so far this year and that’s a result of the work we put in last summer to promote this part of the city centre and to encourage people to visit us in the early evening.” - Paul Gregory, owner of Leonardo’s Bistro Bar in Princes Dock Street, on the long-term benefits of Half Past The Weekend.
• “Hull BID contributes significantly to our local community.  Hull College Group looks forward to further events and opportunities to work in partnership with Hull BID.” - Elaine McMahon, Chief Executive and Principal, Hull College.
• “Customer numbers throughout the week were up on last year. This highlights the positive benefits that promotions like Hull BID Fashion Week have on the city.” – Pete Barber, Centre Manager of the Prospect Centre, on the impact of Hull BID Fashion Week.
• “It was truly manic and our most well-attended clothes swap ever. We had a good response and it was great to be part of Hull BID Fashion Week. Bring on next year!” – Sally Currie of Hull Clothes Swap is already looking forward to the next Hull BID Fashion Week.
• “Hull BID have removed chewing gum and jet-washed the area around the store but it’s not just maintenance. There is a lot of other support like linking businesses with local contacts, which I particularly welcome as I’m not from the Hull area.” - Emma Shaw, former Store Manager at Debenhams.
• “There was a mess in an alleyway near our offices so I reported it to Hull BID and was delighted with how quickly it was cleaned up. I’ve called two or three times to get things cleaned up and on one occasion to get a needle removed from the alleyway. I’ve always been impressed with the response.” - Fiona Wicks, Project Co-ordinator at Rixon Matthews Appleyard financial services in Lowgate.
• “Last year’s event went very well. A lot of the customers were regulars who wanted to make the most of the discount but we did get some new customers as well.” - Tony Cerutti, owner of Ceruttis Restaurant, is a regular supporter of the Hull BID Dine Week.
• “We’ve only been open since last October and we’re very grateful for the support the restaurant sector receives from Hull BID.” - Vanessa Tomlinson, manager of The Wilson cafe bar and restaurant, welcomed the Hull BID dine brochure.
• “With the shops being open and people hopefully wanting to travel into the city centre we were able to work with Hull BID to provide services. We were also able to provide extra services for the Christmas lights switch-on.” - Jon Donnelly, Commercial Manager for Stagecoach in Hull, explains how Hull BID helped keep the buses on the roads on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
• “Hull BID Fashion Week publicised the fashions as well as Holy Trinity Church so the event had a twin effect. I would like to do it again next year when hopefully it will be even bigger.” - Eric Silver, of Leonard Silver menswear, after a successful Hull BID Fashion Week.
• “By joining forces with Hull BID and Yum! we’re hoping to add a new dimension to both events and attract bigger crowds.” - David Porter, organiser of the Hull Jazz Festival looking forward to a joint event in 2011.
• “I’m pleased with what Hull BID are doing. I’ve attended the evening economy meetings. When someone is working on events like that it’s good for the people working in the city.” - Shadia Thanon, General Manager of the Portland Hotel.
• “We’ve always seen Hull BID as an organisation that is primarily concerned with the retail and tourism industries – and we don’t mind that at all because if those businesses are doing well then the rest of us can share the benefits.” - Steve Woolias, Partner at certified accountants Fawley, Judge and Easton.