LeedsBID: The business of improvement and how it is driving the city centre forward

Not-for-profit and non-political, Business Improvement Districts are at the forefront of placemaking, leading collaboration in making places clean, safe, welcoming and vibrant. Acting independently, they are often best placed to respond to the needs of a place, nimble in bringing bold new initiatives to help meet a changing city centre.

LeedsBID has brought over £20 million of new investment into Leeds city centre since it started in 2015; investment raised through the BID levy – 1.25% of city centre businesses’ rateable value for those with a rateable value of £60k and over.

Representing 700 businesses across all sectors in LS1 and part of LS2, with expansion planned in 2025, LeedsBID is one of over 300 BIDs across the country. Developed by the city’s business community, its establishment came at a time of transformative change and regeneration in key sectors across the city centre and reflected a shared ambition to develop and grow, and drive Leeds forward.

With its annual investment of £2.8 million, LeedsBID is making bold new things happen in the city – resulting in both experiential and economic benefits. The introduction of new events, environmental initiatives, cultural festivals and arts installations, projects which help to retain skills and talent, as well as clean and safe streets, are all essential and collectively serve to define the city and benefit those who use it.

After quickly occupying a pivotal position, LeedsBID continues to be a force of change for the better, working collaboratively on the ongoing improvement of Leeds city centre and leading productive projects and partnerships which are, year-on-year, transforming the city. Businesses recognise the essential role the BID plays in supporting ambitions for the city – with its investment benefitting business owners, employees, residents and visitors.

Improvements from beneath people’s feet to the skyline

LeedsBID is bold in what it brings to the city centre, with improvements to the streets beneath people’s feet to the skyline above. Big artistic imprints have brought colour to places and spaces, such as Athena Rising towering over the city on the side elevation of Platform. An array of events and activities animate the high street – with Leeds Jurassic Trail 3 attracting half a million dino hunters into the city centre in 2022, adding £3 million to the Leeds economy in just over five weeks. Its introduction of Leeds International Festival of Ideas, now in its seventh year, also delivers local impact while putting Leeds on the map.

Tailored training also supports the aims and aspirations of diverse business sectors and the invaluable Street Rangers team makes the city’s streets shine, with enhanced cleansing service.

LeedsBID Chief Executive Andrew Cooper said: “Our Street Rangers clean the equivalent of the inner ring road eight times a year in the LS1 district – removing chewing gum and waste with power washing. We also respond to as many as 150 requests from Leeds businesses every week, working with the police and statutory bodies to get each job done.

“Our three priorities of keeping the city centre clean, safe and welcoming are at the heart of everything we do. If we can get these right, people will want to come to visit Leeds and enjoy their experience while they are here. It will also help businesses and people in Leeds cope with the challenges they face.”

welcometoleeds.co.uk, created by LeedsBID gives the official Leeds guide to the wider Leeds story, showcasing the city to the rest of the world. This digital guide to the city’s rich cultural scenes, communities and creativity, entices people to come and discover it for themselves.

LeedsBID is confident in what it brings to the city – its ongoing investment and the strategic role it has are shaping the city centre for the better. With an eye on renewal in 2025, the BID is busy looking ahead for Leeds, planning its next events and activities as well as planning for its next five-year term.

Find out more

To find out more or get in touch about how LeedsBID can help your business, visit www.leedsbid.co.uk/