inSwindon BID announces it will cease trading at end of March

By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk

The organisation tasked with looking after businesses in Swindon’s town centre is to end its operations.

inSwindon BID (Business Improvement District) is a not-for-profit company established in 2007.

According to its website

- www.swindontowncentre. co.uk - its mission is to work ‘for businesses and the local community to make Swindon Town Centre a welcoming, vibrant and distinctive destination’.

In a statement, Operations Manager Angie Blackford announced that the organisation would cease trading from 31 March. No reason for the decision was given.

Within hours of the announcement, Swindon Borough Council leader Cllr David Renard issued a statement insisting that the town centre could still look forward to a bright future.

He also highlighted ongoing town centre regeneration projects.

Cllr Renard voiced gratitude to the inSwindon BID team, led by director Anita Bellinger.

He said: “I’d like to thank Anita and all the team at inSwindon BID for their great work in promoting the town centre over the years.

“Swindon’s town centre, like so many across the country, is having to adapt to ongoing changes in the retail industry, our shopping habits, the use of office space and consumer spending power.

“As the town centre evolves to a mix of different uses, this has inevitably had an impact on inSwindon which relies so heavily on the funding it receives from retailers.

“Although I will be sad inSwindon will no longer be in place to support our great businesses, the town centre does have a bright future. A £100m programme of council-led investment is underway which is already beginning to stimulate private investment to boost the local economy.

“Following inSwindon’s announcement and in light of the major changes taking place, we will be engaging with all our partners on a new approach to managing the town centre.”

Zurich reveals 100 apprenticeships

Swindon-based financial giant Zurich has announced 100 new apprenticeship opportunities.

They cover a dozen sectors, including new opportunities in HR, marketing and data protection.

Zurich wants to attract young talent and futureproof its business, and potential candidates have until 19 March to apply. Details can be found at www.zurich.co.uk/careers/ apprenticeships

Vaccination workers thanked

Staff and volunteers at the Steam covid vaccination centre were thanked for more than two years of work involving more than 460,000 jabs ahead of the centre’s closure.

Cllr Brian Ford, borough council Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, said the hard work which had taken place at the vaccination centre since it opened in December of 2020 was something to be proud of.

Swindon Jazz and Soul Festival

The third Swindon Jazz and Soul Festival will be held at Christ Church and in its grounds on Friday and Saturday, 14 and 15 April.

Starting with a soul evening headlined by Omar Lye Fook MBE and jazz collective QCBA, it will go on to feature a full day of live music with performers from an array of nations including Nigeria and Ethiopia.

Tickets can be bought via ccccswindon.co.uk/page/ tickets