BID Company unveils four industry champions

Liverpool BID Company is planning for the city’s recovery by unveiling four industry BID Champions

They represent the city’s commercial industry, retail sector and hospitality businesses, to provide a leading role in the vision and planning for recovery.

The BID Champions are Julie Johnson, business operations partner at Morecrofts Solicitors and chair of Commercial District BID for Corporate Services, Jennina O’Neill is centre manager at Metquarter and chair of the Retail & Leisure BID for Retail, Natalie Haywood is managing director of the LEAF Group for Hospitality and Gillian Miller, CEO of Liverpool’s Royal Court and chair of St George’s Quarter CIC for Leisure and Culture.

They will provide a voice for each sector, working with BID levy payers in each industry helping to bring their concerns and needs to the fore and lobby on their behalf to local, regional and national government via the Liverpool BID Company.

The BID believes the recovery needs to focus on the mixed use economy that has heralded Liverpool’s 25-year renaissance, ability to appeal to retailers, businesses, the hospitality sector, and thriving night time economy.

There are key agreed actions that need to be addressed as part of Liverpool’s recovery, so the city centre emerges stronger, it says.

In recent years, three areas of the city centre already have regeneration plans in place – Williamson Square, Cavern Quarter and the Commercial District, with Baltic Triangle joining last summer.

It is also important to engage with landlords, local businesses and local agencies on empty units, especially those on the high street left by the closure of stores like Debenhams and TopShop, considering ways in which they can be used, whether that be via meanwhile lease, engaging with independent business and the creative sector.

Working with local and regional government is aimed at examining a review of business rates, allowing business with a physical premises to operate in a level playing field.

And there is a drive to connect all industries and sectors, especially the cultural institutions within the city centre, helping them to work alongside their commercial neighbours to embed a cultural regeneration and renaissance within the city centre.