The Hampstead Village Business Improvement District (BID) was a program designed to support businesses in the Hampstead Village area. The program was funded through a levy on local businesses, which was used to finance initiatives and projects that enhanced the local business environment and helped the area thrive. Hampstead Village BID worked to improve the local economy, promote the area as a destination, and support the businesses within it. This may have included things like marketing and promotional campaigns, public realm improvements, events and festivals, and other initiatives that helped to support the local business community and attract visitors to the area.
Activity
The Business Improvement District (BID) in Hampstead Village made efforts to improve the appearance of the community by providing over 85 hanging baskets filled with flowers throughout the BID area each year. These baskets were displayed from May to September, and the BID also planned to add winter baskets to keep the village looking attractive all year round.
In addition to the standard cleaning duties carried out by local authorities, the BID also organized extra cleaning, including deep cleaning of side walks and removal of chewing gum and graffiti. From March 2018 to April 2019, the Community Clean team spent over 170 hours on cleaning projects and removed around 15,000 pieces of gum. They also cleaned street signs and took care of graffiti removal.
The BID was responsible for the Christmas lighting in Hampstead Village and worked to improve and expand the display each year. They covered the costs of installation and maintenance to make the village look festive during the holiday season.
The BID also supported public realm enhancements, such as the installation of a diagonal crossing at the intersection of Heath Street and High Street. They also provided input and were consulted on projects by Camden Council or Transport for London.
The Hampstead Village BID conducted a Green Audit to identify opportunities for green infrastructure projects in the community. These projects were chosen based on their potential to improve air quality, aesthetics, scalability, and mobility. Funding for these initiatives came from sources outside the BID.
The BID organized the Hampstead Christmas Festival, a popular event that brought residents and visitors together to celebrate the holiday season.
The BID also supported the Hampstead Summer Festival, an annual event that promoted local businesses and activities during the summer months.
The Business Improvement District (BID) in Hampstead Village used various marketing efforts to promote the area as a destination. They were also active on social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter, to promote their members within the BID area.
The BID communicated with local businesses in person and through various media outlets to keep their members and stakeholders informed about their activities. They sent a monthly newsletter to BID members and a regular newsletter to local residents and visitors.
Every year, the Hampstead Village BID worked with the Hampstead School of Art to commission four large, artistic Easter egg installations throughout the village. These installations were created by art students and each had a unique take on what an Easter egg could be.
The BID also partnered with First Mile, a leading recycling company, to encourage local businesses to recycle and offered discounted services to BID members. They also appointed a Village Ambassador to provide a friendly and knowledgeable presence in the village and assist visitors. The BID collaborated with various groups in the community and lobbied on behalf of businesses to local and national government bodies.
They also offered discounted van rentals through Zipcar to BID members and launched a Savings and Advisory Service in partnership with Full Utilities to help businesses save on core costs, such as electricity, gas, water, merchant card services, and insurance. Many BID members may have been able to recoup the full cost of their BID levy by using this service.
