As 2019 draws to a close, the Northwich Business Improvement District (BID) is reflecting upon a positive year for the town.
A range of events have been delivered, new initiatives have been launched to promote Northwich’s businesses and the BID managed to secure a yes vote to continue operating until at least 2024.
The platform to enable Northwich to really position itself as a destination with a difference moving forward continues to grow.
At the beginning of the 2019, Northwich BID held its AGM where businesses could learn about the projects that had been delivered in Year 4 while also learning about what was set to take place in Year 5.
Outlined at the AGM were all of the investments that the Northwich BID would be making across the town centre’s events calendar.
Throughout 2019 the BID has provided funding and support for numerous activities including the Easter and Christmas Extravaganzas, the Northwich Festival of Arts, Dead Dead Good Weekend and the Northwich River Festival and has also promoted a range of events via its social media channels.
These events all helped to bring thousands of extra visitors to Northwich and continue to get bigger each and every year.
As well as events, the BID has also invested in the continued promotion of the town’s businesses through new campaigns.
‘Live from Northwich’ has seen a reporter presenting live on Facebook from different retailers to showcase their products and services, while ‘Northwich Nightlife’ was created to shine a spotlight on the town’s many great pubs, bars and restaurants.
The videos from these two projects have been viewed over 20,000 times on Facebook alone which has given businesses valuable exposure.
On the topic of achieving exposure, Northwich BID was proud to be involved in the town’s campaign to become ‘Makaton Friendly’ alongside the Cheshire Down’s Syndrome Support Group. Makaton friendly status was awarded to Northwich over the summer with more than 200 people from 30 local businesses in the town receiving training.
In the process, Northwich became the first town in the North West to achieve the title.
Northwich also hit the headlines because of the BID’s efforts, alongside partners, to make the town greener and cleaner. As part of this objective in 2019 there have been community litter picks, planting sessions, street cleans and the installation of yet more hanging and railing baskets.
The town scooped a Sliver Gilt in the North West in Bloom awards too for the second year running – the goal will be to go one better in 2020.
Of course, one of the biggest achievements of the year was the BID receiving a yes vote to continue for a further five years until 2024.
Thanks to the support of businesses, the BID is now able to build upon the positive steps made since 2014 and can help make Northwich an even better place to work, live and visit.
Northwich BID Manager Jane Hough believes 2019 has been a good year for the town and is looking forward to what can be achieved in 2020.
“We feel that Northwich has continued to make positive strides in 2019 and I would like to thank all of our businesses for not only giving us their support regarding BID2, but for showing true community spirit and togetherness for all of the events and initiatives that have been delivered over the course of the year.
“Our comprehensive calendar of events, which continues to grow, culminated in our biggest Christmas Extravaganza yet and it was amazing to see so many people in Northwich on the day. It shows that all the promotion we do in the run-up to events like that is worthwhile.
“Planning has already started for next year’s events, campaigns and initiatives so watch this space for details.”