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Bid4Bury looks to future...

Businesses in the centre of Bury St Edmunds will be given an opportunity to discuss how the town centre’s improvement organisation can help them during the coming year, at a meeting for those that fund it.
 
The Business Improvement District, Bid4Bury, which works to improve the town centre’s trading prospects has adapted in recent months to best serve the needs of its members.   It’s Chief Executive Mark Cordell has been in the post for a year this month and will be inviting business people to give him their views at a members’ informal meeting on February 22nd.
 
Mr Cordell said:  “When I joined Bid4Bury a year ago, I was aware that the organisation needed to continue to prove its worth to its members.  One of my first duties in the role was to attend the AGM where representatives from a variety of businesses had a robust discussion about what they felt Bid4Bury should be doing.
 
“I hope many of those people will come to our meeting this month, hear what we have done, after listening to their views, and take an interest in the plans we have for the future.  2012 offers all sorts of trading opportunities to different types of businesses with The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Games likely to be helpful to at least some Bury companies.”
 
His comments were echoed by Bid4Bury’s new Chairman Andrew Speed, who is one of a number of board members to join in the last year – all from member businesses and representing different sections of the town’s economy.
 
Mr Speed said: “We know that trading conditions are still very tough for many and it’s at times like this that a Business Improvement District can really help.  The contributions from individual businesses allow us to promote and market Bury St Edmunds as a place to shop and work – our new website and phone app ‘ourburystedmunds.com’ is just one example.
 
“But it’s not just about what we do in the town itself, Bid4Bury gives businesses a voice to talk to the authorities such as St Edmundsbury Borough Council about the issues that concern them including parking charges and business rates.”
 
Mr Speed has joined Bid4Bury representing the professional and commercial sector of the business community.  He is managing director of St Edmundsbury Financial Services Ltd and a director of Sheridan's Estate Agents.
 
Reflecting on the first anniversary of becoming Chief Executive Mark Cordell added: “In the last year some member businesses have closed, which is obviously sad to see, but in many cases they have been replaced with new companies coming into town and succeeding.  We’re very lucky in Bury St Edmunds to have such a diverse mix in our town centre with the big names that make up the arc shopping centre and a wealth of independent retailers as well as an immensely popular market twice a week.
 
“One of the things that has pleased me most during the last year is that more than half a dozen retail and professional service companies that were under the business rate threshold for compulsory membership of Bid4Bury have signed up as members because they want to be part of what the organisation has to offer.”
 
The meeting for Bid4Bury members takes place on February 22nd from 6pm at the Apex.