Scotland’s cities are truly remarkable – rich in their history, adorned with iconic monuments. At their heart are vibrant communities which are enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. It is only right that we celebrate our cities and seize every chance to drive local economic growth and make them better places to live, work and visit.
The following case study shines a spotlight on the initiatives launched by four City BIDs – Aberdeen Inspired, Essential Edinburgh, Inverness City BID and Glasgow Visit West End. These examples demonstrate their tremendous commitment to creating thriving urban spaces, delivering for local businesses and communities.
Aberdeen Inspired
Aberdeen Inspired, now in its third five-year mandate since its establishment in 2011, has played a vital role in delivering and sustaining investment in the city of Aberdeen. The Aberdeen City BID operates under four main themes — Safe and Welcoming City Centre, Promoting Our City Centre, Attractive City Centre, and Helping Your Business. Together, these initiatives aim to increase footfall in the Granite City, providing a boost for local businesses and building a stronger, more sustainable city economy.
Their commitment to this goal is reflected in successful events such as the world-renowned Nuart Aberdeen Festival, the Jazz Festival held in March, and their popular Comedy Festival.
Managing
- Urban Aesthetic Enhancement: In recent years, Aberdeen City Centre has undergone various initiatives to enhance its appeal. Efforts such as suspended signage, the annual umbrella project, floral displays, and the introduction of parklets have contributed to a vibrant transformation, all maintained impeccably by Aberdeen Inspired and the City Council.
- Nuart Aberdeen: Nuart Aberdeen has provided both local and international artists with the opportunity to showcase their work permanently in the Granite City through site-specific murals, all cared for by the BID. This initiative has attracted thousands of visitors to the city centre, creating a lasting cultural impact and drawing art enthusiasts from around the world to experience the city’s artistic landscape.
Maintaining
- Shop Aberdeen Weekend: Aberdeen consistently hosts a variety of exciting events and festivals throughout the year. Shop Aberdeen Weekend is designed to draw visitors to the city centre, with more than 20 businesses already participating in the initiative and even more expected to join.
- Christmas Festivities Announced: This year’s Christmas festivities in Aberdeen will surpass expectations with a beautiful new light trail and upgraded Curated in the Quad festive market. The programme will also feature the iconic Aberdeen Christmas Village, a parade, and additional attractions, transforming the Granite City into a Winter Wonderland, designed to attract visitors and support local business throughout the holiday season.
- Tall Ship Races 2025: The Tall Ships Races in July will significantly contribute to Aberdeen Inspired initiatives to enhance the city and attract investment. The event is expected to increase footfall, boost local business, and stimulate the economy, all while showcasing Aberdeen as a perfect destination for tourists.
You can read more about the brilliant work being carried out in Aberdeen in the latest blog from Scotland’s Towns Partnership Chief Officer Kimberley Guthrie.
Essential Edinburgh
Essential Edinburgh – established in 2008, and renewed with 92% support from levy-payers in 2023 – is committed to transforming the capital’s city centre into a premier destination for work, business and tourism. The BID focuses on supporting local city businesses in improving customer numbers and revenue, while ensuring high-level environmental services. Its goals include attracting more visitors, enhancing the city’s landscape, reducing crime and fostering stronger relationships between city centre businesses and other stakeholders.
Managing
- Essential Edinburgh is dedicated to fulfilling its objectives of promoting, enhancing, protecting and engaging with the community. Throughout the year, this commitment has been evident in initiatives such as the Eat Out scheme, the city’s film festival, and the Giraffe About Town project. The Eat Out initiative resulted in a 35% increase in hospitality sales, while the film festival significantly boosted revenue for shops and restaurants. Meanwhile, Giraffe About Town encouraged both locals and tourists to cover an impressive 30 million steps around the city.
Maintaining
- Cocktail Festival 2024: Edinburgh Cocktail Week, supported by Essential Edinburgh is billed as the UK’s largest cocktail festival. It has grown year-on-year. The latest 10-day event boasted 24 pop-up bars, live music, street food, and cocktails starting at £5. Highlights included a Bridgerton-inspired Champagne Lounge. With more than 100 participating bars, it is credited with drawing in 25,000 visitors.
- Renewal Ballot 2023-2028: After an 18-month consultation, the key priorities for levy-paying businesses are clear. They include driving local and international footfall, advocating for business rates reform, enhancing street cleaning with seasonal decorations, and ensuring strong representation in the George Street Redesign Project. The creation of a Christmas district remains a priority, and support for tackling homelessness will continue through partnerships like the Cyrenians’ Navigator Project.
Inverness City BID
Inverness City BID represents businesses within Inverness City Centre. Its mission is to ‘deliver a series of projects and services to improve the trading environment of Inverness City Centre’. Work is underway to promote further investment in the area. Having already successfully enhanced the business environment through its comprehensive website, annual events, and various promotions, the BID plans to build on these efforts in the upcoming five years.
Managing
- Inverness City BID Website: Inverness City BID has created an informative, easily accessible website, serving as a valuable resource for both tourists and visitors. It features a comprehensive business directory, details on upcoming events and news, accessibility to the gift card scheme and essential information about Inverness and the BID’s activities.
- Gift Card Scheme: Inverness City BID’s gift card scheme – launched in 2022 – is playing an important part in locking money into the local economy. Its website not only makes purchasing and accessing the gift card simple for everyone, but also highlights the businesses where it can be redeemed, effectively promoting local enterprises. With over 170 participating businesses, the gift card ensures that spending directly supports small, independent businesses in Inverness.
Maintaining
- Business Awards: Inverness City BID enhances investment opportunities by recognising local businesses through its annual City Centre Awards, with prizes across 16 categories. This initiative showcases exceptional businesses, boosts their visibility, and supports economic growth, reinforcing Inverness as an attractive destination for work, living and tourism.
- Seasonal showcases: Inverness City BID likes to get behind celebrating the seasons, including Halloween, where events include a pumpkin trail, with a chance to win a £100 Inverness City Centre Gift Card. This promotes both spooktacular local business – and a little family fun too.
Glasgow Visit West End
Visit West End is the Byers Road & Lanes BID, which was launched in 2015 to enhance the Byers Road community, and its surrounding lanes. The Business Improvement District aims to increase foot traffic and sales by supporting local businesses through various events, marketing efforts and training initiatives. Byers Road is home to an array of independent shops, cafes and attractions, including the Botanic Gardens and the University of Glasgow, creating a lively and welcoming atmosphere for both residents and visitors.
Managing
- Getting Here and Getting Around: At the 2023-2024 AGM, the Byers Road & Lanes BID highlighted their dedication to promoting more affordable parking and improved accessibility for visitors to the West End. In January 2024, their lobbying efforts successfully led to a Traffic Regulation Order that introduced new parking arrangements. The BID team remains committed to opposing parking charge increases and is actively working to further reduce costs.
- Student Engagement: The Visit West End BID aims to make the West End of Glasgow as appealing as possible to students, recognising their significant impact on the area, particularly with Glasgow University at the heart of the district. Their website features a dedicated page highlighting student offers along Byers Road & Lanes, providing a range of affordable options, from cosmetics and fitness opportunities to dining out.
Maintaining
- Continuation of The Byres Road Book Festival: The Byres Road Book Festival, founded in 2016, celebrated another successful event this September, featuring renowned authors like Andrew O’Hagan, Denise Mina, and Christopher Brookmyre. These writers promoted the art of storytelling, a theme that the Byers Road & Lanes BID considers vital to Glasgow’s cultural spirit. The success of this year’s festival not only reinforces its potential for future editions but also opens avenues for expansion in the years ahead.
- Christmas Lights Switch On: The Christmas Lights Switch-On event on Vinicombe Street and Cresswell Lane kick-starts the festive season in style with musical entertainment, food and drinks, market stalls and, of course, the lighting of the Christmas tree. The event highlights the BID’s commitment to investing in the West End and fostering a strong community spirit during the holidays.
Final Thoughts:
The work of Aberdeen Inspired, Essential Edinburgh, Inverness City BID and Glasgow Visit West End exemplify the vital role city BIDs can play in delivering for the people and businesses who live, work and visit them.
Through strategic improvements in infrastructure, support for local businesses, and organising engaging events, they enhance the vibrancy of their cities and demonstrate the potential for delivering sustainable positive change. These initiatives emphasise the importance of community collaboration and investment, showcasing how BIDs effectively contribute to a thriving future for Scottish cities.
Interested in learning more about how BIDs operate and the potential benefits for your community? Find out more about Scotland’s Improvement Districts here or email info@improvementdistricts.scot.