Reading Celebrates 20 Years of BIDs
15th October 2024
October 2024 marks 20 years since the anniversary of the first Business Improvement District Pilot, with £1bn invested in local services and events to improve towns and cities for communities and business.
A total of 20 BIDs were formed with the original pilot in 2003 and then brought into law with the UK regulations act the following year. Using a model from Canada, Business Improvement Districts allowed for businesses to have access to additional services, such as street cleaning, environment and public realm improvements, and events and activities designed to increase footfall in city and town centres.
Currently, BIDs invest £152m in local economies across the country, helping to support investment in towns and cities at a time when public sector funding has been impacted by budget cuts across a range of departments. BID services day to day include street cleaning, removing graffiti, security, connecting businesses and networking. But BIDs increasingly create spectacle and organise events and projects enhancing the lives of those living in local communities.
Reading BID is proud to be one of the first UK BIDs created outside London. Since its creation in 2007, Reading BID has delivered added value services to town centre businesses, ranging from events and festivals to floral displays, street deep cleaning and wellbeing initiatives. Initially founded with the Reading Central BID, the BID area expanded to include the Abbey Quarter District in 2019 and has recently received a successful vote for a further five-year term from 2024-29.
To celebrate an amazing 20 years of BIDs, here are 20 Reading BID projects which have had the most positive impact on Reading town centre:
1. Business Wardens
Reading Business Wardens are on duty 7-days a week and are contactable via the Town Safe Radio or their mobile phones, providing year-round support to businesses with issues such as shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and general queries. Over the last five years, the wardens have returned £250k worth of stolen stock to town centre shops.
2. Christmas Lights
Christmas lights are installed throughout the town centre each year from the end of November until early January. A brand-new Christmas light display for 2024 will comprise 800,000 LED festive lights showcasing glimpses from the town’s history and cultural heritage, including Huntley and Palmers Biscuit Factory.
3. Carnival of the World
Reading BID works with local cultural organisation, CultureMix, to bring vibrant events to Reading town centre. In Summer 2022, EKO the Sea Giant came to Reading as part of the Carnival of the World celebrations. EKO is a nationally renowned travelling theatre group putting on events across the country.
4. Gaia and Ray Mears
Reading BID is proud to contribute to wider climate events in Reading, such as Reading’s annual Climate Festival. In 2023 Reading BID partnered with Reading Borough Council and the University of Reading to bring Luke Jerram’s Earth Installation, Gaia, to the Town Hall, as the flagship event. The festival aimed to inspire people to think about climate action through delivering impactful events such as an inspiring talk by Ray Mears, plus yoga and wellness events which helped make the climate conversation accessible and relevant to Reading’s local communities.
5. Purple Flag Accreditation
Reading BID successfully renewed its purple flag status in 2023, an international accreditation programme that strives to create safe and thriving nighttime economies. This accreditation process has highlighted the strong partnership working we have across Reading town centre, as well as identifying gaps in the public realm which the BID has been able to improve, including Chain Street and Union Street festoon lighting.
6. Diwali Parade
Diwali celebrations are welcomed in Reading. The Southeast Asian arts organisation, Kala the Arts, produced Reading’s 2022 and 2023 Diwali events, leading a procession from Town Hall Square into Broad Street, with exciting performances and a light parade including lanterns, dancers, drummers and music.
7. Reading Lantern Parade
Reading’s Lantern Parade is an annual BID-led festive event and community celebration. Its theme ‘Glow’ promotes a sense of togetherness in families, friends and communities. In 2023, the parade attracted over 800 people with many more joining the procession as it made its way through the town centre to the Forbury Gardens for the musical finale.
8. Reedbed planting and wildflowering
Reading BID installed reedbeds along the Kennet canal through The Oracle shopping centre to help green Reading’s waterways - this was a joint venture with The Oracle, the Environment Agency and the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust. Reading BID has also identified areas of open ground in the town centre needing revitalisation, and has with Reading Borough Council’s parks team to plant wildflowering areas to attract bees and butterflies.
9. Summer and winter charity donations
Reading BID works with local community and charity groups throughout the year. The Winter Warmer initiative collected and distributed over 900 items of warm, winter clothing in two days to those in need. In Summer, Reading BID facilitated business collection for the Brighter Futures for Children’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, collecting over 80 boxes of donations including food, clothes and summer essentials for the thousands of local children in need.
10. Staff training – first aid and SEEDL
In November 2022 Reading BID delivered its first free training course for staff: First Aid at Work. Since then, a partnership with online training provider, SEEDL, has been established to offer all employees free, unlimited access to up to 200 live courses, helping to support the learning needs of Reading's town centre businesses.
11. Reading Food Festival
Reading’s annual Food Festival is held along the length of Broad Street. The weekend festival sees a full complement of food stalls, covering a wide range of cuisines, as well as music from local bands throughout both days. Feedback from high street retailers is very positive, with some also welcoming increased sales during the weekend event.
12. Seasonal town centre trails
Reading BID runs free seasonal trails for local families during Easter, Summer and Halloween. Each event is supported with trail maps and marketing promotion to reach local families. Uptake by families has ranged from 350 to over 3000 families and a range of businesses are involved from well-known high street brands to smaller independents.
13. Defibrillators
In 2020, Reading BID worked with Reading’s police licencing team to deliver 10 defibrillators to nighttime economy venues to ensure access to this life saving equipment was available into the night. (Many defib units were previously available throughout the town centre’s businesses but generally they close by early evening making access impossible.)
14. Paddington
Reading BID supported the national Paddington Visits campaign whereby over 20 Paddington bear statues were installed on benches across the country to celebrate the release of ‘Paddington in Peru’. Reading’s unique connection with Paddington’s creator, Michael Bond, made the installation extra special for Reading and resulted in some positive media coverage of the town.
15. NTE support – security tabards, drink testing kits, street pastors, first stop
Reading BID supports the nighttime economy with a variety of initiatives such as distributing drink spiking kits to all pubs, clubs and late-night venues and operating the First Stop service to provide paramedic medical services and respite to anyone visiting or working in our nighttime economy. Reading BID also provides high visibility, individually numbered tabards to late night venues for door supervisors, and Reading’s Street Pastors are trained to work with the public, identifying those who may be vulnerable and need some support.
16. CSR activities
Reading BID provides access to environment-based volunteering opportunities for businesses and their employees, through ongoing initiatives such as litter picking, charity events (e.g. Winter Warmer) and reedbed installations to green Reading’s waterways.
17. Recycling and electrical recycling
Every week, Reading BID provides access to recycling and carboard collection at no extra charge, making it simple for businesses to do their bit for the environment and reduce their contribution to landfill – collecting, on average, over 5 tonnes of cardboard every week! The BID also offers additional access to small electrical waste disposal, meaning less business waste going to landfill.
18. Street deep cleaning
In late Spring, ahead of a busy Summer, overnight, Reading BID’s deep cleaning contractor steam cleans and jet washes the pedestrianised areas of Reading town centre. This method of cleaning lifts the grime naturally accumulated over time, as well as gum from the pavements.
19. Weekly wellbeing events
Reading BID delivers year-round wellbeing activities that all staff within Reading BID area can join for free. Initiatives include yoga, walking and meditation and are a great way for staff to engage with free wellbeing activities on their workplace’s doorstep or online!
20. Hanging baskets and floral installations
Reading BID has implemented a series of floral installations throughout the town centre, including baskets, troughs and tiered planters overflowing with colourful flowers and foliage which help make the town centre more attractive to visitors and staff.
Reading BID won a new five-year term in February 2024. Read more about the plans for Reading Central and Abbey Quarter BIDs.
