What is BID

Business Improvement Districts first emerged in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in the late 1960s and have subsequently emerged across Canada and the USA and into New Zealand, South Africa, Jamaica, Serbia, Albania, England (through legislation the Local Government Act 2003 and subsequent regulations in 2004) and Wales, Germany and Ireland with BIDs legislation also being passed in Scotland in April 2007.

BIDs are partnerships between local authorities and the local business community to develop projects and services that will benefit the trading environment within the boundary of a clearly defined commercial area. Over 65 BIDs have now been established across England and Wales. Sleaford plays a special part in UK BIDs as the first market town BID in the East Midlands. As such, the rest of the country is watching with interest to see this major partnership initiative develop.