Firm is Alive With Ideas to Support Town Centre BID Campaign

BASINGSTOKE, U.K. - Sept. 3, 2015 - PRLog -- Over the last year more than 100 businesses have been consulted and these responses have been used to put together proposals for the Basingstoke BID. Work on the campaign phase is now underway and will continue to the end of the voting period in November.

A BID is a business-owned, led and funded company set up by a democratic ballot. It is a way for businesses to collaborate, invest in their area, and improve it as a place to do business. If the majority of businesses vote ‘yes’ to a BID, then they pay a levy based upon the current rateable value of their property. The BID board uses this money for projects over and above services provided by the council.

A number of creative design agencies were invited to submit proposals and Alive With Ideas were selected to design and create the branding and marketing collateral to support the Basingstoke BID campaign phase.

Alan Oram, Creative Designer and Director at Alive, said, “We’re really proud to be part of this campaign. As a business based in the town centre we have a keen interest in the future of Basingstoke and are delighted to be able to support the steering group with this exciting project. We’ve created a brand identity that really reflects the unique qualities of our town and we’re now finalising the brochures and website to support the campaign. The website and marketing collateral will spell out the benefits to local businesses in a clear and coherent way, as well as explaining the ballot process and how the BID will be funded, should it be successful.”

Specialist suppliers TheMeans, who are experts in developing and managing BIDs, will also support the campaign phase. The aim will be to encourage businesses to get involved and ultimately vote in favour of the BID. The website, which can be found at www.basingstoketogether.co.uk, will include factual information about BIDs and the BID proposal, news and events, reasons to vote ‘yes’ and information about the BID steering group.

Julie McLatch, Associate Solicitor at Lamb Brooks and vice chair of the BID steering group, comments, “As a firm occupying a prominent position in the town, Lamb Brooks solicitors are delighted to be backing such a positive scheme and can see the benefits that will come to both our staff and our clients in having an improved environment to work in. As a steering group member I’m really pleased with the way that local organisations have come up with some excellent ideas to benefit staff and ensure that clients enjoy their visit and are encouraged to return.”

There are over 200 BIDs in the UK with more on the way. Businesses within these areas are collectively making important decisions about improvements that will benefit their own local districts. The Basingstoke BID, named Basingstoke Together, will aim to achieve four main objectives; promoting Basingstoke, presenting the town as a ‘place for people’, working to make Basingstoke a more successful and more convenient place to do business and engaging with businesses on important issues that will affect the town centre.

The campaign will begin this week, as businesses within the BID area will be receiving a letter detailing the first stages of the process.