We Love the BedfordBID - official!

Ian Pryce, CEO of Bedford College and Chair of the BedfordBID (above third from left), with some of the Bedford Bluecaps

Bedford College has welcomed the news that the Bluecaps are staying in Bedford!  And with them the organisation which is behind all the related promotional activity, BedfordBID.

A majority of businesses voted Yes to a second term of paying into a special levy which is managed on their behalf by a board of representatives of the Business Improvement District (BID).

After a slight delay, caused by an appeal on technical grounds, which was rejected by the Secretary of State today (29th July), BedfordBID II is about to be unveiled.

The BID has been voted in for a second term of five years with an annual revenue of £600,000 which is all spent directly on making Bedford a better place to work, play and enjoy!

It is not a council organisation, although Bedford Borough is among those organisations represented on the board as it owns properties in the BID zone. The council voted Yes to support the BID in the recent election. As did Bedford College which recognises that a vibrant town centre economy is good for employment.

CEO of Bedford College Ian Pryce is also Chair of the BedfordBID, he said: “This is great news for Bedford in very difficult times. We need to be all working together to boost the local economy. The BID has done some great work in keeping Bedford in the public eye, keeping business buoyant and bringing people in to the town centre - let’s keep up the good work!”

Plans for a major new promotional campaign for Bedford will be unveiled shortly by BedfordBID - but the existing http://www.comearoundtobedford.co.uk/ will remain online with details of all the projects run by the organisation - including the successful BedfordBID gift and shopping vouchers. Bedford College supports the vouchers scheme to ensure that money goes back into local businesses.