Its that time! Invoicing for the next financial year of BID services starts in October. Its been a busy year for your BID!
Invoices will be sent directly by London Borough of Sutton to your registered address. More FAQ’s about paying your BID Levy can be found here
So what have we been up to?
Since ballot in 2022 we have been working hard to ensure we are delivering on our key core commitments to our businesses. Aside the existing work we do, we have been working to make our district more engaged and attractive by replanting and updating our Town Centre Planters with new varieties of wild flowers and plants and some amazing artwork by local artist Doug Shaw and the students from Limes College. We have delivered three major footfall driving events including the Christmas Lights Switch on 2022, Sutton S.T.E.A.M Fair and worked with local CIC The Sound Lounge on the wonderful Folk in the Park. Each delivering Town Centre focused footfall and raising Sutton’s profile.
We sponsored the Time and Leisure Food and Culture awards, of which several Sutton based businesses won and a further dozen were recommended, and we have worked closely with London Borough of Sutton around regeneration plans for the Town Centre and ensuring business needs are represented with decisions on planned schemes and projects.
We have been able to make our businesses feel supported and represented and have achieved over £60,000 in additional funding to deliver space activating projects like The Northend Market, and the new Sutton Storyteller publication (due in October) as well as contribution towards our events and activities throughout the year. This is on top of the £250,000+ in levy contribution made by businesses for 22/23. That’s over £300,000 contributed directly to benefit our members.
Our BID Support Officer and Radio Scheme continue to deliver in our task to support businesses in managing business crime, engagement with Sutton MET Police and London Borough of Sutton. We want our Town Centre to feel safe and managed and we continue to work with partners to deal with fly tip, waste, ASB, graffiti and other issues on a pro-active basis
Our Green Enterprise partnership work with London Borough of Sutton has delivered tangible savings on business rates for over 50 businesses that have now signed up. It may be borough wide, but we have worked hard to ensure our District is predominant in that list. Supporting them when cashflow is key, to become sustainable not only environmentally, focusing on new custom and consumer trend, but also to ensure their doors can stay open during what is a very challenging time.
Its never quiet at the BID and we are constantly looking at new initiatives, funding resources and areas to problem solve for the benefit of our members. There is lots more to come as we move into 2024.
We are working on a new Enjoy Sutton Market-space for the Winter inside St Nicholas Centre with our market partners Ibento Events. Moving our successful Northend Market inside until Spring 2024 when we plan to move it back to its home on the High Street and adding additional markets including Diwali and Christmas themed. We hope this additional experience-based retail will add some footfall to our members who occupy the Shopping Centre and encourage our SME market traders to consider a permanent bricks and mortar home.
We are working on this years Christmas Lights Switch on, scheduled for November 25th and are busy drawing up final plans for our business Christmas Window competition and Mad Hatter Trail (details to follow).
We are also planning our summer 2024 events with the Sutton STEAM Fair and working with The Sound Lounge again on Folk in the Park for August.
As a BID we are always keen to hear new views, ideas, and welcome applications from our members to join our BID Board of Directors. If you are interested in finding out more and assisting us to shape our delivery, please do get in touch.
For those of you new to the BID, welcome! We look forward to working with you and are always available to speak with you about your business needs and discuss the services we have and can put in place to support you. Please do not hesitate to contact the BID CEO Patricia Park either via email at patricia.park@successfulsutton.co.uk or via mobile 07703 464 576.
All of our information can be found on the www.enjoysutton.co.uk website.