A NEW BID FOR A STRONGER SWINDON
A safer, more welcoming place. Stronger support for business. A collective voice to help shape Swindon’s future.
The proposed Swindon Business Improvement District (BID) would bring businesses across the Town Centre, Old Town, Railway Quarter and North Star together to invest approximately £2.5 million over five years in improvements to their trading environment.
Led by local businesses, the BID would deliver additional services and projects shaped by business priorities, from a visible Street Team and better safety coordination to environmental improvements, events and promotion.
Business involvement would continue throughout the five-year term through engagement, feedback and opportunities to discuss delivery and future priorities.
If you would like to learn more about governance, express an interest in becoming involved or raise a question, contact admin@swindonbid.co.uk.
WHAT IS A BID?
About Business Improvement Districts (BIDs)
A Business Improvement District (BID) is a business-led and business-funded initiative that enables businesses in a defined area to collectively invest in improvements they want to see. A BID is created through a democratic ballot process and is managed by a local partnership or not-for-profit company.
BIDs work alongside, not instead of, council and police services. They focus on locally agreed priorities such as events, place activation, business support, or safety.
Over 330 BIDs operate successfully across the UK, including in Bath, Bristol, Reading, Winchester, and Cheltenham — delivering tangible improvements and measurable returns for their levy payers.
Swindon BID Potential
A new Swindon BID could raise over £500,000 per year, directly invested in projects such as:
Town centre vibrancy and destination marketing
Clean, green and safe streets
Support for local traders and employers
Footfall-driving events and seasonal campaigns
“When the Street Team was here, there was someone who knew the area, knew the businesses and could act”
- Simon webdale (specsavers)
who are we?
Our vision is to create an environment that feels safer, looks better and works harder for business: a place where businesses are confident to invest, staff and customers feel secure, and more people choose to visit, stay and spend.
The proposal has been shaped through consultation with local businesses and is being taken forward by a Shadow Board chaired by Laura James.
One BID area, local priorities
The proposed BID brings together four distinct areas, each with its own businesses, character and opportunities.
Working collectively would enable businesses to address shared challenges while recognising the different needs of the Town Centre, Old Town, Railway Quarter and North Star.
How would it work?
If approved, the BID would be delivered by Swindon BID Limited, an independent, not-for-profit company, with a board drawn primarily from businesses across the BID area.
Swindon Borough Council would collect the levy on the BID’s behalf. The BID company would be responsible for delivering the agreed business plan and overseeing how its funds are used.
BID-funded services would be additional to agreed Council baseline services. Businesses would receive information about levy income, spending, delivery and future priorities.
