BIDs Help Businesses Prepare For Re-opening

BIDs Help Businesses Prepare For Re-opening

Derby’s Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) have further stepped up support for local businesses by offering Business Covid-19 Recovery Starter packs to help them re-open safely.

Businesses who pay a BID levy can apply for the pack which includes social distancing floor graphics and tape, washable face coverings, hand sanitiser, and a series of posters and window vinyls advising on COVID-19 prevention measures.

The BIDs have also circulated information about what businesses should be considering ahead of opening which, for non-essential retail, is currently earmarked for June 15.

The recovery starter packs are the latest initiative set up by the Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter BID’s since the start of lockdown.

As key workers, the BID Rangers have been checking business premises on a daily basis, liaising with the authorities and reporting any issues to businesses,

Regular communications have been sent out to business owners with the latest information and guidance, a business support guide has been updated regularly and a business continuity log produced and used in social media to help communicate to the public how businesses are still trading (albeit differently). 

The BID Project team have also been on hand to assist businesses in make funding applications and online activity has included new Facebook pages and updated websites with dedicated COVID-19 information pages.

The two Derby BIDs are project managed by Partnerships for Better Business Ltd (pfbb UK) and have benefited from its expertise in managing BIDs across the country.

Both BIDs are also members of the Derby Economy Recovery Taskforce and have incorporated best practice from other towns and cities into its activities. They have also campaigned on behalf of their businesses through their membership of national industry bodies, promoting schemes such as ‘Raise the Bar’ which encourages Central Government to raise the threshold for grant applications.

Martin Langsdale, chair of the Cathedral Quarter Board explained: “The response to the recovery starter packs has been very encouraging with around 50 businesses requesting them so far.

“We have such a diverse mix of businesses in the Cathedral Quarter so the easing of lockdown restrictions will be staggered over the coming weeks so momentum will gather pace as the next few weeks unfold.”

Helen Wathall, chair of the St Peters Quarter Board continued: “Throughout the past weeks, the BID has focused on supporting our local businesses in whatever way we can. The team continues to have good engagement with businesses and receives a number of calls a day asking for advice and guidance on a range of issues.”

“Moving out of lockdown will present many new challenges for businesses and we hope that this will ease some of the pressure – leaving businesses to scrutinise every aspect of their operations to keep staff and customers safe.”

To request a COVID-19 Business Recovery starter pack, businesses should email Cathedral Quarter BID at enquiries@derbycathedralquarter.co.uk or St Peters Quarter BID at enquiries@stpetersquarter.co.uk, stating their business name and address and providing contact details

For further information on BID activities and in relation to COVID-19, please visit www.derbycathedralquarter.co.uk and www.stpetersquarter.co.uk and follow on social media channels.

Back to news