Place leaders from London and Birmingham elected to Chair Business Improvement District body

The BID Foundation – the professional body for Business Improvement Districts in the UK – has appointed new Co-Chairs who will lead the evolution of the industry and its contribution to successful places.

Nadia Broccardo, Chief Executive of Team London Bridge, and Michele Wilby, Chief Executive of Colmore BID , Board Director of the High Streets Task Force and Senior Fellow of the Institute of Place Management, were elected by Members of The BID Foundation and will Co-Chair the organisation’s leadership Council.

Following confirmation of their election, the new Chairs were joined last week by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to discuss priorities for UK high streets and how to respond to recent economic challenges for towns and cities.

The new Co-Chairs take over from Bill Addy, Chief Executive of Liverpool BID Company, who, alongside Andrew Cooper and Stefan Gurney as Vice Chairs, have led The BID Foundation since its inception, guiding the organisation and its Members through the COVID-19 crisis.

Stefan Gurney, Chief Executive of Norwich BID, will continue in the role of Vice Chair.

Speaking about their appointment, Michele Wilby said:
“BIDs have been at the forefront of helping to shape places across the UK for nearly 20 years but, as the industry has matured, they have been able to really demonstrate their value in supporting businesses through really challenging economic times. I’d like to thank Bill and Andrew for their work so far and I look forward to working with Nadia and Stefan to further develop The BID Foundation as a key industry voice, representing towns and cities up and down the country.”

Co-Chair Nadia Broccardo said:
“Businesses are an integral part of our cities and town centres and Business Improvement Districts have been a dynamic mechanism that has helped shape and progress our working districts. Right now, BIDs are more important than ever, giving business communities stability, guidance and guaranteed services, all of which are vital as we continue to adapt through this period of change.”

“As we adapt to new challenges together, the independent professional body of the BID Foundation will continue to support BIDs and work with stakeholders across the United Kingdom to implement positive change and help ensure the success of our cities. I am delighted to be working with and learning from Michele Wilby and Cathy Parker who are incredibly knowledgeable in their fields.”

Founded in 2018, The BID Foundation represents over 80 of the most influential Business Improvement Districts in the UK, which work to support businesses and communities, promoting vital and viable local areas and creating growth. The BID sector has invested over £1bn back into places since their inception in the UK in 2005. The BID Foundation is part of the Institute of Place Management, based at Manchester Metropolitan University and which leads the government’s High Streets Task Force.

The BID Foundation works to represent BIDs, share best practice, influence place policy, and support BIDs’ work with thousands of levy paying businesses. Under the new Co-Chairs, The BID Foundation will focus on four key themes: safe and secure; public realm; net zero; and arts, marketing and inward investment.

The BID Foundation commissioned a 2019 study of the BID sector – the ‘State-of-the-Art Report’ – which identified a number of recommendations to support Business Improvement Districts to deliver the most value to their local areas and the UK. During the COVID-19 crisis, the organisation worked closely with UK Government, providing support to BIDs and businesses to remain resilient and rebuild after the end of lockdown periods.

Cathy Parker, Chair of the Institute of Place Management, said:
“Business Improvement Districts each represent an average of 400 organisations in their local areas and they play a key role in place making; from hosting local events and marketing places as destinations, to building local skills and creating new offering environmentally sustainable business services.”
“I’m delighted that Nadia and Michele will be bringing their drive, experience and dedication to place, to their new roles as Co-Chairs. From their positions in leading BIDs in both London and Birmingham, The BID Foundation is well positioned to represent a real diversity of BIDs, places and communities.”