Northallerton BID 2021 Guide

WE ARE SUPPORTIVE. WE ARE CREATIVE. WE ARE A TEAM. WE ARE PROUD. WE ARE PASSIONATE. WE ARE FOCUSED. WE ARE ACHIEVERS. WE ARE INCLUSIVE. WE ARE LOCAL. WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED….

WE ARE NORTHALLERTON BID.

WE ARE PASSIONATE. "Northallerton BID is passionately committed to serving businesses like mine, now and in the future."

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OUR TOWN YOUR BID

FOREWORD This guide is designed to make you aware of the work of Northallerton Business Improvement District (BID) and the support we give to businesses within the central commercial area.

We work hard to maintain the strength of our High Street amid changing retail habits and strongly believe Northallerton is the ideal place to work, shop and do business.

With our attractive mixture of small independent businesses and major national brands, we are convinced we are well placed to emerge from the global pandemic strong and revitalised.

We’ve given practical support to dozens of local businesses to help them continue trading during these challenging times.

Our busy Love Northallerton marketing channels have enjoyed huge growth and popularity.

Now the BID’s focus is on the future as we draw up plans for our re-election campaign later this year. I can promise you that our 2022-27 Proposal will be engaging, innovative and exciting.

Our hard-working business community deserves nothing less.

We are passionately committed to serving them now and in the years ahead.

LINDSAY JUDD CHAIR, NORTHALLERTON BID CO LTD 3

OUR TOWN YOUR BID

331 WHAT IS A BID?

Northallerton Business Improvement District is one of 331 BIDs in the UK. Northallerton BID was elected by businesses in 2016 with a wide-ranging brief to boost trade and footfall and to promote the town as an attractive place to live, work and shop. BIDs serve for five years before returning to ballot.

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WE ARE SUPPORTIVE. "The BID is a really positive force in Northallerton. It stands up for businesses large and small and makes sure their voices are heard."

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OUR TOWN YOUR BID

223 HOW IS IT FUNDED?

The BID is funded by levies from 223 businesses in central Northallerton. Levies are based on rateable values for commercial properties and fees are collected by Hambleton District Council on the BID’s behalf.

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"We’re extremely proud to have a BID that works tirelessly to promote Northallerton as the ideal place to shop and do business."

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WE ARE FOCUSED.

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OUR TOWN YOUR BID

WHAT DOES THE BID DO? There are FIVE key themes:

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MARKETING & ADVERTISING BUSINESS SUPPORT APPEARANCE & ENVIRONMENT SAFE & SECURE EVENTS & NIGHT-TIME ECONOMY

. . . but read on to find out much more.

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OUR TOWN YOUR BID

28,000,000 EVENTS

The BID arranges popular annual events – including Classic Car Sunday and Home Front Forties Sunday. Each event attracts on average 6,000 people to Northallerton, boosting local trade and promoting the town. The BID plans to stage an extra event this year, Jurassic Northallerton - a family-friendly dinosaur day - in July 2021, if restrictions allow, and plans to celebrate Yorkshire Day on 1 August.

Smaller BID events include Northallerton Doggie Days, children’s town trails for Halloween and Easter, and the business houses’ Pancake Race on Shrove Tuesday.

The BID also gives financial support to the popular Homegrown Food Festival.

In 2019, The BID was actively involved in promoting the UCI Road World Championships in Northallerton, which was viewed by a global TV audience of 28 million. An Arts and Crafts event was staged on the High Street in 2018.

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OUR TOWN YOUR BID

10,000

CELEBRATING NORTHALLERTON Love Northallerton is the public face of the BID, showcasing the town to thousands of visitors every year. Its busy social media channels are among the biggest in Yorkshire, with almost 10,000 followers on Facebook.

Videos, billboards and TV and radio adverts in Northallerton and Middlesbrough are all used to shout about Northallerton and everything we are so proud of. This has a very positive effect in persuading businesses to relocate to the town and create jobs.

The BID takes Northallerton to the public and showcased local businesses at the Great Yorkshire Show in 2018 and 2019, selling Northallerton as a destination.

The popular Shop Local campaign has earned widespread publicity, with thousands of cotton shopping bags and facemasks distributed.

The BID’s public-facing Love Northallerton website promotes Northallerton to a large audience. And we help businesses reach more customers through our Little Book of Treats voucher offers.

BBC Look North and Radio York regularly feature Northallerton BID news and events – promoting the town to people who live in North Yorkshire and beyond.

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WE ARE LOCAL.

WE ARE INCLUSIVE.

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WE ARE ACHIEVERS.

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OUR TOWN YOUR BID

CELEBRATING NORTHALLERTON BUSINESSES The Love Northallerton Business Awards were an instant smash hit when they were held for the first time in November 2020. More than 9,000 people watched an as-live video in a wonderful celebration of Northallerton’s High Street Heroes. There were 12 categories covering every type of business, large and small. The BID plans to hold the Business Awards bi-annually.

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS Every year the BID pays for a giant Christmas tree on the Town Square and smaller lights and Christmas trees on business fronts all along the High Street, as well as in Garthway Arcade. We work closely with Northallerton Town Council to organise popular Christmas events such as Santa Sunday. The BID also supports the Christmas Tree Festival at Northallerton Parish Church. We promote Christmas late-night shopping evenings and organise the everpopular children’s Elf Trail. A special feature in 2020 was our Santa video and the Christmas Countdown Clock on the front of the Town Hall. Both of these were organised and paid for by the BID. 15

OUR TOWN YOUR BID

1,300 SUPPORTING BUSINESS IN LOCKDOWN The BID has had more than 1,300 direct engagements with businesses during national coronavirus lockdowns starting in March 2020. We have helped dozens of businesses access Government grants and in some cases have given hands-on support with accountancy and lease advice to ensure they can continue to trade.

We also keep in touch with our businesses through bi-monthly breakfast network meetings when restrictions allow.

The BID launched high-profile ‘Open for Business’ and ‘Shop Local’ advertising and video campaigns to support businesses at various stages of the national lockdown and easing of restrictions.

As businesses began to re-open, we treated shoppers to random acts of kindness such as free coffees, snacks and shopping bags. We also produced a powerful ‘We Are Northallerton’ video highlighting the strength and resilience of our business community.

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WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.

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MAKING NORTHALLERTON GREENER The BID finances cardboard recycling, which any BID member can take full advantage of, saving them thousands of pounds a year. Before Covid-19, an excellent community collection partnership was forged with Northdale Horticulture, who provide training and work-based activities for adults with learning difficulties.

We hope to resume the collections once restrictions are lifted.

We also spearheaded the award-winning Refill scheme, which provides free water refills in the town. Another example of excellent community partnership is the work with North Yorkshire County Council and Northallerton Town Council to transform the East Road underpass.

Latest plans are for colourful floral displays up and down the High Street, another great partnership with local councils.

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OUR TOWN YOUR BID

KEEPING NORTHALLERTON SAFE Northallerton is proud of its low crime rate - but there is no room for complacency. The BID works closely with North Yorkshire Police and the Safer Hambleton Community Hub on security. Filling a gap in the CCTV network, the BID funded a camera at the North End of the High Street that has been used to track criminals in hundreds of incidents since it was installed in September 2018.

We work with Hambleton District Council to promote Shopwatch and the DISC retail security app, which helps to keep the town and its traders safe.

The BID supports Northallerton Street Angels, who help to keep the town-centre safe on Saturday evenings.

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WE ARE PROUD. 20

OUR TOWN YOUR BID

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES The Northallerton Design Guide, initiated by the BID and jointly funded with Hambleton District Council, will influence the town’s environment and local planning for years to come. It sets high standards for the quality of everything from paving stones to litter bins and bicycle racks.

The BID also finances visits from professional gum-zappers who clear pavements of unsightly chewing gum.

The BID helps to finance the Heritage Action Zone, which includes shopfront improvements, as well as the Connections Project to enhance alleys including New Row.

KEEPING NORTHALLERTON CONNECTED The BID funds the central Northallerton Wi-Fi network, ensuring businesses and customers can stay in touch.

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OUR TOWN YOUR BID

MAKING IT EASIER TO PARK Parking is always a hot topic in Northallerton. The BID has successfully campaigned for extra free parking on the High Street, with surveys showing that the temporary extension to one hour from September 2020 to April 2021 led to a significant increase in trade and football between lockdowns.

A BID petition on behalf of businesses calls on North Yorkshire County Council to find permanent solutions for historic problems and put us on a level playing field with neighbouring towns where free parking is much more generous. We are continuing to campaign for a fair deal for Northallerton and its businesses.

MAKING IT EASIER TO FIND JOBS Annual Jobs Fairs - organised by the BID and Northallerton Job Centre - have been highly successful in helping local companies recruit staff.

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OUR TOWN YOUR BID

2022+ PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE What does Northallerton need in the 2020s and beyond? We are working with other agencies to bring new businesses to Northallerton.

We are encouraging the drive for more electric vehicle charging stations and power for our weekly markets.

We are championing the need for proper toilets. And we are working with other agencies to bring coach parties to Northallerton, a new and untapped market.

The BID is passionate about promoting Northallerton as the county town of North Yorkshire and proud to support its many popular businesses.

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WE ARE A TEAM. 25

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WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED….

WE ARE NORTHALLERTON BID. 27

Northallerton BID Company Limited Joe Cornish Galleries, Zetland Street, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, England, DL6 1NA Call: +44(0)7393445613 Email: info@lovenorthallerton.com

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