SHOWCASING the town centre and boosting footfall are amongst the aims as Keighley's new Business Improvement District (BID) gets up and running.

BID manager Sarah Broadbent says the initiative offers "an exciting opportunity" for the town.

Late last year, more than 78 per cent of the 300-or-so eligible businesses that voted said they were in favour of a new BID being launched.

Under the scheme, businesses pay a levy of 1.75 per cent on top of their business rates.

The previous BID came to an end in 2021, but due to lockdown no ballot could be held at the time.

Sarah, who has just taken up her new appointment, is no stranger to the town.

She was formerly events officer with Keighley Town Council.

"The BID is an exciting opportunity for the town to help increase its presence and footfall," she says.

"I am looking forward to meeting with the town’s businesses and providing opportunities to showcase Keighley, attract more visitors, increase customers and improve business for all concerned in the BID area."

She adds that alongside ensuring the BID communications infrastructure is in place, her priorities include meeting as many levy-paying businesses as possible to discuss what they would like to see.

Sarah will also be working on expanding Keighley's Christmas lights ‘switch on’ event to ensure the whole town centre can benefit from additional footfall generated.

Jan Smithies – acting chair of the Keighley BID board – says that with the due date for first levy payments having passed in June, most of the funding is now in place for the scheme's progression.

"I am so pleased that levy payers and Keighley residents will soon start to see the impact of having a new BID for the town now we have the finances in places to get things moving and a full-time member of staff as our Keighley BID manager," she says.

"Initial work includes getting our website and social media underway and other forms of communication in place so levy payers, town residents and those living in our wider catchment areas can see what BID is planning and delivering.

"We also need more businesses to step forward and get involved in the BID board.

"Business Improvement Districts are run by local business representatives on behalf of local businesses. Keighley BID board already has places allocated to cover the wide range of levy-paying businesses and organisations in the town and we will shortly be seeking people to get involved from under-represented sectors."

Keighley BID has its own premises within the town's civic centre, in North Street.

Sarah can be contacted on hello@keighleybid.com