Bristol BID Consultation – Local firms have your say at the ballot in June 2025

Posted on09 January 2025

Jon Bower, Chair of the Redcliffe & Temple BID Advisory Board provides an update regarding the proposals to create a new, united and expanded Business Improvement District (BID) in the city.

This will involve combining the existing Bristol City Centre BID, Redcliffe & Temple BID, and Broadmead BID to operate under one vision as well as expanding into new areas of the city centre.

By unifying the three BIDs and expanding the footprint, the proposed Bristol BID will increase investment from £11 million to ~£18m million over the five-year term to strengthen the local economy and support local businesses and their employees.

If approved by businesses via the ballot in June 2025, the new BID will officially launch in November 2025.

To read the consultation document and complete the survey please click here
To book onto one of the consultation webinars and/or workshops please click here

We would encourage your business to engage with the team from the BID if you’ve not done so already, so that they can understand how their proposed projects can best support your business and your colleagues.

Business West are also hosting an event on Wednesday 15^th January to give attendees the chance to find out more. An introduction to the Bristol BID Proposals and Consultation Tickets, Wed, Jan 15, 2025 at 8:30 AM | Eventbrite

Jon added "I am proud to be chair of the Redcliffe & Temple BID and as a business we benefit greatly from the activities delivered by the BID; from the Climate Action Programme to lunchtime activities to the Bristol Light Festival. The work of the BID really adds to our offer of working in Bristol and hope that it does for your business as well"

I hope that you will support the BID at the ballot in June 2025 and welcome your thoughts on projects that would support your work."

Please direct any questions by email to Tom Swithinbank tom@redcliffeandtemplebid.co.uk and Paula Ratcliffe Paula@bristolcitycentrebid.co.uk, with any questions and/or to arrange a meeting.

Burges Salmon has been an enthusiastic supporter of BLS for many years. BLS provides a valuable role in uniting and promoting the whole of the legal sector across Bristol to benefit both its members and the city. It facilitates collaboration across the sector to ensure that we can all make a difference. Whether that is driving important initiatives in, for example, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and the use of new technologies, liaising with stakeholders and charities in our wider community or providing training to generations of lawyers, the service and support provided by BLS is invaluable. More recently BLS has taken a lead on promoting Bristol’s legal brand, encouraging legal and business services talent to come to the city, which in turn attracts clients and inward investment to our thriving and vibrant commercial community. BLS breaks down barriers and brings those in the profession together for the greater good. We are proud of our long-standing association with BLS.
Roger Bull - Managing Partner, Burges Salmon
Three things to say about my experience of working with Bristol Law Society. Their central team, council members and general hangers-on are just about the nicest, most generous group of people working in the legal sector today. The numerous events, awards, socials and conferences I’ve had the pleasure to attend over the years have been, without exception, top quality and supremely organised. And, thirdly, they consistently exceed and challenge the boundaries of what lawyers might assume a regional Law Society will restrict activities to – from a hugely successful charitable school meals drive to corporate social responsibility and diversity campaigns to being joint architects and coordinators of the region’s unique Bristol+BathLegalTech group, which it has been my privilege to co-chair for the last five years.
Chris Bull - Principal, Edge International
As one of the leading Insurance brokers for law firms in the UK and with a large presence in Bristol it seemed only natural for us to support the Bristol Law Society. Bristol Law Society is one of the oldest and most vibrant of the Law Societies in England and Wales. We are pleased to be working with them on important matters relating to law firms’ liability insurances and Risk Management. From Sole Practitioner to Top 20 law firms we are sure our two organisations can provide excellent support and assistance for the challenges faced by the legal profession.
Matthew Baker - Financial Lines Group, Howden Insurance Brokers Ltd
Joining BLS in 2013 and becoming President in 2018/19 has created many longstanding friendships and business relationships, whilst also unlocking doors to other opportunities in the City. BLS enabled a perfect balance of professional development and also opportunities to give back to the legal and wider community. I am pleased that my Firm has supported BLS in many capacities since 2013 and continues to do so.
Nicholas Lee- Managing Director of Paragon Costs Solutions and Past President of BLS