New BID manager at Heart of Manchester

The Heart of Manchester Business Improvement District has appointed Phil Schulze as BID manager.

Schulze will start his role on 22 June. Responsibilities include delivering the business plan of the Heart of Manchester BID, with a focus on liaising with BID members and stakeholder organisations at a senior level to ensure the success of the BID’s events and marketing initiatives.

Schulze replaces former property journalist Simon Binns, who joined Heart of Manchester in 2013 but left earlier this year to work on projects in the media, property and leisure sectors.

Prior to joining the BID team, Schulze was general manager at Marks & Spencer in Market Street, and previously managed stores for M&S in Glasgow, Newcastle and Leeds. He also worked in financial services, leading M&S Retail through the preparation and launch of M&S Bank.

The Heart of Manchester BID was launched in April 2013 and represents more than 380 city centre retailers.

Funded by the retailers, the Heart of Manchester BID delivers customer service and promotional initiatives worth £1m a year, over a five-year period, aimed at increasing footfall and retail spend in Manchester city centre.

The BID encompasses an area from King Street to Manchester Arndale and takes in Cross Street, St Ann’s Square, New Cathedral Street, Market Street and part of Deansgate.

Schulze said: “I’m really excited about being the new BID manager. It gives me an opportunity to work with a great team and build on the amazing things already achieved such as the BID’S annual summer garden festival Dig the City and the city’s growing Chinese New Year celebrations.

“My time as general manager of M&S on Market Street gave me a real insight to the fantastic retail offer in Manchester, across both the independent and major brand stores. I’m looking forward to working with everyone across the different public and private sectors that make Manchester what it is – a leading UK and increasingly international city.”