Manchester BID beefs up board
The Business Improvement District for Manchester city centre has announced the board of directors that will oversee its second five-year term.
Jane Sharrocks, the general manager of Selfridges Exchange Square, will continue to chair the board, while Arndale Centre director David Allinson and McDonalds’ franchisee Roger Khoryati aso continue for a second term.
New board directors include Zoe Averianov, store manager of TAG Heuer and chair of the BID’s new jewellery group; Paul Hales, area manager at Costa Coffee who will chair the finance committee, Harvey Nichols’ general manager Iain McKenzie, who will also undertake the role of Chair of the new large stores group; Paul Roden,proprietor of Grafene and chair of the BID’s new food & beverage group; Roger Ward,proprietor of the Victorian Chop House Company, who will lead on events & marketing; and Boots’ GM Margaret Neville.
Marketing Manchester’s managing director Sheona Southern and Fiona Worrall, director of neighbourhoods at Manchester City Council will also join the board as associate directors.
The renewal ballot secured a 77% ‘Yes’ vote on a turnout of 43% in November last year, meaning that around £6m will be collected from around 400 members for investment into the city centre’s retail core. The board will manage the strategic direction of Manchester BID, ensuring projects outlined in the BID’s business plan are delivered within budget to meet the needs of BID levy paying businesses.
BIDs are precisely defined geographical areas where businesses pay a levy made on the basis of rateable value. The Manchester BID, which is delivered by city centre management company CityCo, covers customer-facing businesses in the central shopping district spanning Deansgate, King Street, Cross Street, St Ann’s Square, Market Street, New Cathedral Street and Manchester Arndale.
The board said that priorities for the new term include increasing footfall in ‘dip’ period, by developing further its events programme, including Chinese New Year, Halloween in the City, and student shopping nights, along with the delivery of a new event this summer – the Bee in the City Weekender, a public art trail of 100 giant 3D Bee sculptures.
The programme also includes the 2-3 June King Street Festival, in what as the historical retail heart of the city is always a focus. Branding and placemaking agency DS Emotion has this month announced its appointment to carry out a “place activation” programme on the street.
Six pillar events are now delivered by Manchester BID annually, which the BID said has contributed to a continuous footfall growth of 4.8% over the last five years, outperforming the UK average of -1.3%. The BID will also continue to fund a tourist information team of City Hosts.
Sharrocks said: “The key to the success of the BID thus far has been the commitment and collaborative approach demonstrated by the 400-plus retailers and city centre businesses.
“The new BID board reflects the diversity of these businesses, with representatives from a variety of sectors, while also acknowledging the key role the F&B sector is playing in the growth and prosperity of the city. The introduction of sector groups and new chair roles within these groups will yet further evolve the way BID members can work together.”
Earlier this month, Liverpool BID Company set out its plans for the next five years, ahead of next month’s renewal ballot. The organization plans to expand the BID area to include the Lime Street and Knowledge Quarter Gateway
