CONTRIBUTION NOTICE FEBRUARY 2024 – JANUARY 2025
The sixth year of BID Leicester’s delivery was the first of the BID’s second term, which will see 3.8m in investment into the city between 2023-28. As BID Leicester enters its 7th year, we reflect on the accomplishments of the past and set our sights on the future. In 2023, we contributed towards making the city centre a safer environment for night-time visitors by launching Best Bar None in Leicester, a nationally recognised accreditation scheme highlighting the best of Leicester’s hospitality, promoting safe socialising and responsible management. The scheme culminated in 47 businesses achieving accreditation and an awards evening attended by over 150 people at the City Rooms. We operated an innovative night time first aid service in partnership with St. John Ambulance, which provided reassurance to businesses and more than 1,000 interventions to keep the public safe, and in some cases, save lives. Leicester's renewal of the Purple Flag status in March highlighted the strength of our partnership working with Leicester City Council, Leicestershire Police and you, our BID levy paying businesses. Our Street Ambassador service continued to be a reassuring presence on the streets, reporting anti-social behaviour and giving reassurance and information to visitors and businesses like. Our dedicated street washing service made sure that our pavements and public spaces are visibly cleaner. Our contactless giving campaign, GIVE Leicester, gathered £11,269 in donations, meaning that a total of £56,652 has been raised to date to support people affected by homelessness in the city centre. Sales of the Leicester Gift Card increased dramatically in 2023, with more than £154,000 sold so far, helping to lock additional spend into the city centre for BID businesses. The year also saw delivery of 7 high-profile events which have captivated audiences, raised the profile of the city, increased visitor numbers and driven footfall. This included the hugely successful Leicester Monsters trail, which more than 80,000 people explored in October. A change in the Rateable Value of hereditaments in the BID area will result in a 19% reduction in total levy invoicing. Whilst this creates a challenge for the BID company, we intend to remain ambitious in delivering our projects, events and services. Your resounding support empowers us to channel £3.8 million into the city from 2023 to 2028, fortifying the city centre’s growth, stability, and prosperity. Our commitment to you, our city centre businesses, remains steadfast. We are proud to work collaboratively with such an outstanding group of businesses across the BID area and will continue to act as a positive voice, raise your profile and deliver a real impact for the city centre as a whole. Simon Jenner, BID Leicester Director
BID LEICESTER IN 2023/24
6,665
Business interactions by Street Ambassadors
130,600
People reached via the Independent Leicester campaign, promoting 247 businesses
£11,269
Raised through Give Leicester donation points. Bringing the total raised to £56,652, to help people experiencing homelessness in Leicester
“THE LEICESTER MONSTERS TRAIL BOUGHT MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE INTO THE CITY, AND IT WAS FANTASTIC TO SEE SO MANY FAMILIES ENGAGING WITH THE TRAIL OVER THE TWO WEEKS IT WAS THERE. HOSTING ONE OF THE MONSTERS AT THE LCB DEPOT BROUGHT NEW VISITORS AND WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US HERE AT LCB TO BE PART OF A SUCCESSFUL EVENT FOR THE CITY." - James Burkmar, LCB Depot
592
315
Businesses promoted through the LoyalFree app
Hours of medical provision in the night time economy
442
47
Hours street washing funded
Businesses featured in Cool As Leicester BID Spotlights promoting them to a highly engaged local audience
357
Street issues reported by Street Ambassadors
47
licenced venues achieved Best Bar None accreditation
79
Offers served by over 42 restaurants promoted during Leicester Restaurant Week and a social media reach of 895,679
£154,224
7
564,857+
People have now attended a BID event
High-profile events, including art installations, city-wide festivals, live-music events and illuminated trails
value of Leicester Gift Cards sold since launch in October 2020
6,210,000
Social media impressions
179
Businesses signed up to receive the Leicester Gift Card
£163,225
1,379
Miles walked in the BID area by Street Ambassadors
16,183
Engaged LoyalFree app users
Saved through our saving service to date
“THIS IS THE BUSIEST YEAR WE’VE HAD SO FAR WITH LEICESTER RESTAURANT WEEK SO HOPEFULLY IT ONLY GROWS IN FUTURE YEARS” – Matt Saunders, Queen of Bradgate
INCOME AND SPEND PROFILE FOR YEAR 6: 2023/24 In Year 6, BID Leicester collected £664,383 in levy payments. Operating costs: 17% Clean, green, safe, attractive environment: 30% Raising Leicester’s Profile: 37% Strong Business Voice: 16%
* Please note that this figure is based on total levy collected at time of print and may be subject to change.
DELIVERY IN YEAR 7: 2024/25 The next year will see the BID Leicester team continue to deliver an outstanding programme of events, projects, and initiatives to enhance the BID area. • After the successful launch of the Best Bar None scheme in 2023, in 2024 we will reopen applications and host the second awards evening, which will help raise standards across the city and celebrate the hospitality sector • Delivery of a range of high-profile city-wide events, including a one-off event in St. Martin’s Square, a Roman Festival coinciding with the reopening of the Jewry Wall Museum and the return of Brew Beat craft beer and music festival • The fourth Leicester Restaurant Week will return to promote the food and drinks sector • Bringing a new Christmas light installation or event to the city
PROJECTED INCOME & SPEND PROFILE FOR YEAR 7: INCOME Levy income
£559,996
Other income
£90,636
Total income
£650,632
SPEND PROFILE Clean, Safe & Attractive Environment
30%
Raising Leicester’s Profile
36%
Strong Business Voice
14%
Operating Costs
20%
* Please note the figures in this leaflet are based on provisional budgets and may be subject to change. Any surplus or contingency will be carried forward to meet the requirements of programme delivery for the rest of the BID’s term.
Do you have a question about BID Leicester or your levy? Get in touch at info@bidleicester.co.uk
@BIDLeicester
@BIDLeicester1
@BIDLeicester