Burnley BID underlines aims and objectives to help boost town centre fortunes

Burnley BID’s first five-year term started earlier this year after more than 70% of town centre businesses voted in favour of proposals that would see £1m. of additional investment pumped into town centre management.

This investment will focus on three key themes.

The first is to further develop Burnley as a modern, vibrant and connected town centre which includes marketing and promotional campaigns to raise the town's profile and the businesses within it, with a focus on shopping local.

This will include an enhanced programme of festivals and events to attract new customers and visitors, although Christmas 2020 plans have had to be put on hold due to the uncertainty surrounding coronavirus restrictions.

Work, however, is under way to promote businesses within the Burnley BID to 75,000 plus consumers through dedicated social media and PR channels, giving them additional exposure alongside their own promotions.

Theme Two, entitled ‘Creating a Better Burnley for Business', will remove barriers to growth and provide more support to new and existing locally owned independent businesses.

This will be achieved through signposting networking opportunities, mentoring, access to finance schemes or low cost training and the setting up of joint procurement schemes.

Finally, under Theme Three, Burnley BID will strive to create a safer and more secure Burnley for everyone within the town centre.

This will see the BID team working with town centre businesses, police and wider partners to reduce business crime, supporting the evening and night-time economy through the implementation and support of accreditation schemes and liaising with young people to avoid anti-social behaviour.

Significant progress has already been made under Theme Three thanks to the work of the BID and its partners, with Lancashire Police adding another police officer and three more PCSOs.

Burnley BID project manager Andrew Dean is confident the projects and initiatives that are starting to be delivered by the BID will bring positive change to Burnley.

“Our long-term aim is to help create a vibrant and buzzing Burnley which is a great place to live, work, visit and do business,” said Andy. “The aims and objectives set out in our business plan are all geared towards creating an environment where businesses, no matter how big or small, can flourish. If they’re successful it means the town is thriving.

“The current situation regarding coronavirus means we will have to do some things differently, especially regarding events and festivals, but we will be working with businesses and stakeholders going forward to deliver activities that adhere to any government restrictions.

“Ultimately we’re really excited to get to work here in Burnley and I can’t wait to start getting to know more businesses and individuals in the town and get cracking on projects that deliver real positive change.”

For more information about Burnley BID, visit https://burnleybid.co.uk/.