BIRKENHEAD BUSINESSES BACK THE BID

Leading Wirral businesses, Smith and Sons, McEwan Wallace and Hillyer McKeown, have joined forces in support of Wirral’s Birkenhead Improvement District (BID) programme.

The BID is a scheme where businesses within a specific area come together to fund initiatives and improvements above the level provided by the local authority. The BID is a democratic process and all businesses siting within the qualifying area will have the choice to vote in favour of the scheme.

The three professional services firms, each of whom have offices in and around Hamilton Square in the heart of the town, are members of the BID steering group. The businesses are working closely with Wirral Chamber to champion the investment programme.

If successful, vital funds will be raised via a Bid Levy which will be applied to businesses in the local area. All of the money raised will be ring fenced for initiatives which will only benefit Birkenhead. .

As the campaign builds momentum in the lead up to voting in November, Smith and Sons, McEwan Wallace and Hillyer McKeown are working to galvanise support from the commercial community.

Alastair Gould, Director of McEwan Wallace and Chairman of the Birkenhead Business Improvement District said that businesses of all sizes will reap the rewards of the BID.

Alastair said: “Birkenhead BID will bring together all of our local businesses to create one voice to represent our business community. This would allow the BID to work with local authorities to highlight the issues that matter most to our businesses in Birkenhead. This is a fantastic opportunity for commercial enterprises within Birkenhead to come together and create an additional funding stream that will have a positive impact on us all.

“We are local business people and we are keen to see more investment into our town centre – that will not only enhance the area – but will also attract other businesses to work here.”

Carl Critchlow of Wirral Chamber added:Birkenhead BID would raise over £2 million and is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for businesses to take the lead in regenerating Birkenhead Town Centre, I urge all businesses to back Birkenhead BID and vote ‘Yes’ for change when asked in November.

For more information regarding Birkenhead BID contact BID Co-ordinator Carl Critchlow at cc@wirralchamber.co.uk or visit www.birkenheadbid.co.uk