Business Improvement District (BID) Design Services

What is a BID

A Business Improvement District (BID) is an organisation that must first go to the ballot to seek approval from local businesses to establish a BID.

Levy-paying businesses, those of a certain rateable value, fund the BID.

BIDs operate within a defined area to enhance the district beyond what the local authority can offer.

What makes them different, to my mind, is that they are paid for by the businesses to work for the businesses, solely where they operate.

They focus on the unique challenges the districts face and put strategies and solutions in place to improve the area.

The BID’s markets

There are essentially four markets the BIDs are concerned with. These are, roughly in order of importance:

  • The local businesses, both levy-paying and non-levy-paying

  • Councils, institutions, governing bodies and decision-makers

  • Residents and workers

  • Visitors

It will depend on the BID as to how and if they engage with some or all of these markets and how they decide to communicate with them. The activity and scope will also depend on the size of the BID and the budget it wields.

As the name suggests, the general aim of the organisation is to improve the area. That can mean a whole host of things, but might include:

  • Enhancing local services

  • Improving sustainability

  • Developing the built environment

  • Promoting local businesses and services

  • Offering business support

  • Events and promotions

There can be a lot more. My local BID, The Fitzrovia Partnership, provides two services that I believe, both as a business owner and resident, really make a difference. These are employing My Local Bobby (MLB), who provide wardens who do an amazing job despite difficult circumstances. And the FitzRover, an electric truck that scoots around sorting out any unsightly waste issues.

Tailoring design and communications for BIDs

Designing materials for BIDs requires a deep understanding of the organisation’s strategies and goals for each of the markets it wishes to communicate with.

Particularly with BIDs, a design agency must employ marketing and communication skills as well as graphic design.

No matter what asset we produce, we must keep enhancing the messaging in mind; communicating to the readership and delivering the piece in the most relevant and sustainable format.

It is important to advise the client on the best approach, offer savings where possible to maximise impact and minimise costs. The membership will always have a watchful eye on how their money is being spent.

“Navig8 has become our indispensable partner in design and marketing, far exceeding the role of a mere supplier.
Their team possesses a profound understanding of our audience and strategic objectives, consistently collaborating with us to deliver exceptional value to our members and the residents of Fitzrovia. 
Their creative approach and meticulous attention to detail have earned our unwavering trust, a quality that we find truly invaluable.” 

Lee Lyons, COO, 
The Fitzrovia Partnership

We very rarely print for The Fitzrovia Partnership, but when we do, it is fully FSC approved, vegetable inks, carbon offset and fully recyclable.

Digital-first, fully navigable documents are the approach we take. These assets and documents often have to be repurposed from a presentation to a downloadable document and sometimes into social media assets.

Design services we (Navig8) provide to BIDS

Navig8 delivers a vast range of design services to BIDs. Below is a list of just some of the marketing, communication and design solutions we offer.

Navig8 provides expert design services for BIDs. We know the challenges they face and have firsthand experience of the real impact BIDs make in communities, the area and businesses.

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