Four Key Objectives 2018 - 2023
Directors of the Bognor Regis Business Improvement District (BID) have agreed a set of strategic proposals for its fourth year of operations, starting on 1st April 2021. The proposals include plans to drive and co-ordinate the recovery and transformation of the BID Area, including ongoing projects to make it more welcoming through the use of colour, lighting, extra planting and public art.
Covid-19 continues to have a massive impact, and we're continuing our work to ensure that Bognor Regis Town Centre remains vital and viable, supporting existing businesses, meeting the changing needs of the community, and attracting interest from new businesses and investors.
oBJECTIVE ONE
WELL KNOWN TOWN
The BID’s Well Known Town Objective includes: enhanced communications, marketing, quality promotions and events – all things that businesses have asked for to help improve the perception and image of Bognor Regis. The aim of this work will be to drive increased footfall and repeat visits, increase dwell time and spend, attract higher-spending visitors to visit the town, and tackle seasonality.
2021 FOCUS
1. Dynamic engagement with Multi Agency Stakeholder Place Branding Group and drive delivery of Place Branding
2. Proactively drive & co-ordinate BR Town Centre Transformation Team to support existing businesses and attract new businesses & visitors
3. Deliver Summer “Space To…” 2 responsible tourism campaign in line with Place branding visuals & values
4. Collaborate with stakeholders & community event organisations to devise and deliver major event for 2022
5. Deliver BRINDIES - promoting BID Independent businesses through unique identity & platforms
6. Deliver Christmas Experience 2021
7. Develop and promote the General Market
oBJECTIVE TWO
WELCOMING TOWN
A welcoming town centre that feels safe with low crime and anti-social behaviour and is clean and well-maintained is a key priority for businesses, shoppers and visitors to ensure customers want to return, and businesses want to locate in Bognor Regis.
2021 FOCUS
1. Ongoing provision and development of fully accredited BCRP scheme
(NB: all visual enhancement projects from 2020 are ongoing, but incorporated under Place Branding or Town Centre Transformation Strategy projects)
oBJECTIVE THREE
NIGHT-TIME ECONOMY
Improving the evening and night-time economy is a key priority for businesses.
During the evening and late night, the town quickly becomes deserted, with low numbers of people around, few businesses open and the presence of groups of people that could be viewed as intimidating. Evidence from other towns indicates that having more people out and about around the town at night makes it feel safer. There is significant scope to further improve how people feel after dark and this is an important reason to develop the evening economy to help make the town a more welcoming, inclusive and inviting place.
2021 FOCUS
1. Engage Night-Time Economy businesses to define BID priorities for this specific objective in 2021-22
2. Encourage BRSFL support for expanded seafront lighting timetable. Work with stakeholders to secure funding for replacement timers.
oBJECTIVE FOUR
BETTER PARKING
A town centre with improved parking is a priority for businesses. Making the town centre a more attractive proposition for residents, visitors, businesses and investors will be helped if the town benefited from more and easier to use parking.
2021 FOCUS
1. Continue to work with ADC to increase use of Fitzleet Multi Storey Car Park by town centre businesses and visitors
2. Continue to pursue proposal to repurpose upper levels of Fitzleet Multi Storey Car Park to enhance its appeal for parking on lower levels
3. Continued management and delivery of Two Hour Free Parking Disc scheme
MEMBER SERVICES
MEMBER SERVICES
The BID is here to help and inform businesses, and we offer a range of services and initiatives specifically to support you. The BID offers networking opportunities, distributes a quarterly newsletter and sends out frequent emails highlighting opportunities for businesses to get involved.
We have directly supported a number of businesses needing advice on putting on events and saved other businesses money by informing them about grants and reliefs they were previously unaware of.
2021 FOCUS
1. Increase engagement with businesses through one to one contact, where possible.
2. Continue to provide businesses with info, advice and support on direct cost savings
3. Work with stakeholders to deliver accessible online training tools and opportunities