Business Improvement Districts (BIDs)
What is a Business Improvement District
A Business Improvement District (BID) is a defined area in which the local businesses have voted to invest together to improve their environment.
Business Improvement Districts provide additional or improved services, identified by the local businesses. This could include extra safety, cleaning or environmental measures.
Business Improvement Districts are business-led organisations. They’re funded by a mandatory levy on all eligible businesses after a successful ballot.
Business Improvement Districts in London
There are currently over 70 London Business Improvement Districts with new ones being developed every year.
The interactive map below details the different Business Improvement Districts across London.
Alternatively, find a full list of UK Business Improvement Districts, including those in London, on British BIDs website.
How the GLA works with the Districts
The Mayor and GLA are supportive of Business Improvement Districts and engage and collaborate in different ways.
Business Improvement Districts are collaborative, partnering with the GLA other Business Improvement District networks to address a range of shared priorities, such as:
- skills gaps
- the climate crisis
- supporting high streets
- the return of visitors to our city
- lobbying activity on key business challenges.
Many Business Improvement Districts take a keen interest in cleaning and greening public spaces to make them more attractive both for visitors and residents.
London Business Improvement Districts contribute hugely to London’s economic success. They play a crucial role working with boroughs and stakeholders to bring in new investment - ensuring that our capital remains an attractive place to visit, work and invest.
The diversity in size, locations and focus all help support London’s business community.
The benefits of Business Improvement Districts
- Business Improvement District levy money is ring-fenced for use only in the District area
- businesses decide and direct what they want for the area
- business cost reduction, for example, from reduced crime and joint procurement
- mediating with local councils, Transport for London, the police and other public bodies
- increased footfall and staff retention
- place promotion
- networking opportunities with neighbouring businesses.
Guidance for Business Improvement Districts
There are a range of documents that Business Improvement Districts and Local Authorities can access and use free of charge.
These documents aim to provide support and guidance in the development and management of BIDs:
- a step by step handbook on how to set up Business Improvement Districts
- an operating agreement with Local Authority
- the complementary service agreement
- the baseline agreement
- Business Improvement District articles of association.
All these documents are suggested templates and should not preclude you from seeking your own legal advice.
Find further Business Improvement District information and guidance on gov.uk.
The following organisations offer advice on the operation and implementation of Business Improvement Districts:
Other organisations and industry bodies representing BIDs in London include Cross River Partnership and BusinessLDN.
Examples of GLA's engagement with Business Improvement Districts
Business Improvement Districts play a vital role in maintaining London’s attractiveness as place to work, visit and invest. They have been critical in supporting and rebuilding the city, to help London thrive in a changing world.
Through engaging with other Business Improvement Districts, the Greater London Authority (GLA) and London & Partners, they have helped support recovery campaigns and continue to advocate alongside the Mayor for vital business support.
Below are a few examples of the Greater London Authority’s work and engagement with Business Improvement Districts:
Industry partners including Business Improvement Districts have been instrumental in the success of London & Partners recovery campaign, Let’s Do London.
Coming together to support the Let’s Do London campaign from the beginning, Business Improvement Districts helped this to be the biggest domestic and international tourism campaign the capital has ever seen.
The Mayor wrote to the Chancellor alongside key businesses and business groups to urge the Government to reintroduce VAT-free shopping for international visitors as soon as possible. This would remove a major competitive disadvantage for London and the UK and immediately help to make the capital even more appealing to tourists.
This service is a collaborative data sharing partnership between the Mayor of London, London boroughs, and Business Improvement Districts.
This action plan aims to set out how we will support the recovery and evolution of the CAZ post pandemic. It has been shaped by engagement with businesses and business groups, including the Business Improvement Districts in the CAZ. The action plan sets out our collective vision for London’s Central Activities Zone.
The Mayor's Good Work Standard (GWS) aims to improve working lives for Londoners by bringing together best employment practice and links to resources and support from across London to help employers improve their organisations.
Over 145 organisations have been recognised by the Mayor as Good Work Standard employers including Better Bankside and Love Wimbledon Business Improvement Districts.
The Business Climate Challenge (BCC) is an energy efficiency programme supporting businesses to reduce their energy consumption, to accelerate building decarbonisation efforts in London.
The Business Climate Challenge partnered with nine Business Improvement Districts and Climate Change Alliances to engage and support cohorts of businesses in the programme.
Most recently held in September 2023, BusinessLDN London BIDs Summit brings together London's Business Improvement Districts, business leaders, Greater London Authority, borough leaders and other key stakeholders.
It explored how each can collaboratively support London’s continued growth, while discussing what more is needed to create a capital that is both a resilient and attractive place to be.
Further information
Below you can find a number of links that might be relevant for those wanting to learn more about Business Improvement Districts:
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