Twenty years. That鈥檚 how long Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) have been shaping the high streets, city centres and communities across Wales. Two decades of businesses saying: we care about this place, and we鈥檙e prepared to invest in its future.
The BID model, born in Canada and now established across the UK, remains rooted in collaboration鈥攂ringing businesses together to create the kind of places we all want to spend time in. In 2006, Swansea became the first Welsh city to embrace this approach. Fast forward to today, and there are eleven BIDs running from Caernarfon to Cardiff, each one tuned into the unique needs of their place.
欧美成人 became part of that story in 2016. I joined as the deputy and Marketing and Communications Manager from day one. It鈥檚 been a journey鈥攐ne I鈥檓 proud to continue now as Executive Director since being appointed last year. Along the way, we鈥檝e delivered some truly standout moments: investing over 拢10 million back into the city, launching the internationally recognised City of Arcades campaign, and creating initiatives like our Taxi Marshal scheme and The Card鈥攅ach one building a safer, stronger, more connected Cardiff.
But this story isn鈥檛 just about us. Across Wales, BIDs are doing brilliant things. The team in Merthyr Tydfil has raised over 拢1.9 million to put back into the town, delivering a packed calendar of community events鈥攆rom festive favourites to foodie festivals like their much-loved Chilli and Chocolate weekend. Over in Pontypridd, the BID has been at the forefront of the town鈥檚 flood recovery efforts鈥攔eminding us that BIDs are often the first to step in when places need support the most.
These successes speak to something bigger. BIDs aren鈥檛 just about cleaning streets or promoting local businesses (though we do that too). They鈥檙e about resilience, adaptability, and standing side-by-side with the communities we serve.
I鈥檝e worked in this industry for 16 years, starting my career at Solihull BID, consultancy and then to Cardiff. I鈥檝e watched it grow from just a job to me, to my career. I believe in BIDs as we鈥檙e changing the way people think about high streets鈥攆rom being spaces of transaction to places of connection.
And while BIDs might not be the right fit for every place, what鈥檚 clear here in Cardiff鈥攁nd in Newport, Merthyr, Pontypridd, and beyond鈥攊s that when BIDs work closely with their business communities and form strong local partnerships, they become a vital part of the high street puzzle.
So here鈥檚 to 20 years of putting places first, at 欧美成人 we鈥檙e showing that when we work closely with our businesses and in strong partnerships locally, BIDs are an important part of the jigsaw in the future of Welsh high streets.