Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are becoming an increasingly popular way for businesses to take a lead and generate sustainable funding to improve their local trading environments.

Since 2004, over 200 BIDs have been approved in England and Wales, making an important contribution to the health of many town centers and to the bottom line for businesses.

Funded through a small levy alongside business rates, BIDs deliver changes and improvements identified collectively by businesses in the area. A wide range of activities have been funded through BIDs across the UK – from increased street cleansing, parking schemes, promotions and events to group buying initiatives, skills development and training.

Shrewsbury has a great example of a well-managed BID which is successfully operating for the benefit of local businesses. Shrewsbury’s BID was approved in 2014 and over the five-year term of the plan, £1.6 million will be invested to improve the town’s commercial environment.

Shrewsbury BID have extended an invite to Denbighshire based businesses, offering an opportunity to meet with staff and local businesses involved in the BID and learn from their experiences of establishing the BID, how it operates and what has been delivered locally

Over the next couple of years Denbighshire County Council’s Economic & Business Development Team will be offering support to local business communities who would like to find out about and develop BID proposals for their towns.

Would you like to join us?

Join us and other businesses for the visit to Shrewsbury on Tuesday 24^th May 2016 (lunch included).  To book a space please contact the Economic & Business Development Team on (01824) 706896 or email nicola.caie@denbighshire.gov.uk.

For more information on what BIDs are and how they could operate in Denbighshire towns please visit:

www.gov.uk/guidance/business-improvement-districts

 

Love it or hate it, social media is here to stay.  Get a head start with our social media top tips.

Go where your customers are

Opening up good communication channels with your customers is key.  Find out what social media platforms they are using, sign up and create your online presence to actively engage with your customers.

Measure results against objectives

Once you’re on social media, don’t rest on your laurels, do your homework and find out if it’s actually working in terms of your business goals – doing this will also help you work out what you could be doing better.

Get more followers

Using social media links on your website and emails is an easy way of pointing people towards your Facebook page, Twitter account, etc., increasing your followers.

Keep an eye on changes in the social world

The world of social media is constantly developing, and there are more and more platforms popping up all the time. Keep up to date with the latest social media news and stay one step ahead.

Accept criticism and respond positively

Sometimes customers will use social media as a gateway to publically complain. The golden rules are don’t get defensive or dragged into an online argument – respond promptly, thank them for bringing it to your attention, and be positive but above all don’t ignore it or delete it.   Ask your customers for feedback and act on it so they can see that you are listening.

Be consistent, and don’t lie

Be consistent in the messages you are posting on social media and always provide honest, accurate information to avoid negative repercussions  – or inevitably it will come back to bite you at some point!

Next steps – book onto a free 2 hour Inspiring Action Technology for Business Growth workshop and find out how you can use social media to sell your products and services and boost your business –  Register your interest on a Superfast Business Wales workshop near you

Superfast Business Wales is an EU funded programme which provides micro, small and medium sized businesses, which are eligible, with access to fully-funded workshops, a technology needs diagnostic, 1:1 support, a free website review, all supported by information and tools available at www.businesswales.gov.wales/superfastbusinesswales/ 

03000 603000 / superfast@businesswales.org.uk