Client:

Bankside Business Partnership & latterly Better Bankside

Assignment:

To pilot, implement and manage the UK’s third-ever Business Improvement District (BID)

Timescale:

Seven years and counting!

Project Description:

The Better Bankside story begins with Peter Williams’ appointment as Executive Director back in 2000 - a position he continues (as CEO) to this day. Better Bankside was one of five pilot Business Improvement Districts – on the American model – funded by the Central London Partnership through the ‘Circle Initiative’.

Better Bankside covers the area between Blackfriars and London Bridges, and south to Southwark Street. After four years of piloting projects, mainly in cleaning, greening and safety, Better Bankside ran a successful ballot of some 300 local businesses in 2005. The BID went live in April with a five-year mandate. It now runs some eight ‘themes’ – Cleaning, Greening, Safety, Environmental Improvements, Area Promotion, CSR, Travel Planning and Business Club.

Giles Semper came on board to run the BID campaign in 2004-05 and now works as Deputy CEO. As a result of their work in Bankside, Peter and Giles advised other would-be BIDs, including Waterloo and Camden. They also undertook the BIDs scoping work in Southall.

For the last year The Means - in the form of Sophie Tyler - has also run Better Bankside's award-winning Travel Planning programme.

Visit the Better Bankside website .