BUSINESSES on Brackmills Industrial Estate have voted ‘Yes’ to another five years of Business Improvement District status.
The decision secures a fund of almost £2.3 million which will be spent on improving the estate over the next five years.
The BID has also confirmed Jon Morgan, chief executive of vehicle repair and servicing company In ‘n’ Out Autocentres as its new chair.
Just over 87% of votes cast in the 2024 ballot voted in favour of the BID by total number of businesses and 88.6% of votes cast voted in favour of the BID by rateable value.
BID chief executive Sara Homer said: “This is exciting news for everyone on Brackmills. Thanks to our YES vote we have secured a further five years of funding that will ensure our estate continues to thrive. Looking ahead, our focus will be on delivering a clear plan that has security, safety, infrastructure, the environment, our businesses and people at the very heart of all we do.”
Just over 87% of votes cast in the 2024 ballot voted in favour of the BID by total number of businesses and 88.6% by rateable value of votes cast were for a new five-year term.
The new BID has the following objectives:
Infrastructure
To provide a great infrastructure and a smart working environment for businesses to operate and people and services to access and move around, safely and effectively.
Crime Prevention and Safety
To work closely with the Police and others to maintain a safe and secure working environment for freight transport, all vehicles, customers and people who work on the estate.
Environment and Sustainability
To provide a smart, tidy and safe environment and focus on sustainability, exploring options for electric vehicle charging points – supporting businesses on their low-carbon journeys.
Supporting Businesses and People
To continue to support businesses on Brackmills to grow and develop, ensuring a great working environment in which people can thrive.
Its new chair Jon Morgan said: “Brackmills is far more than just a place to work and is always buzzing with life and people. It is well cared for and well maintained and I am particularly proud of the green spaces and pocket parks. When In ‘n’ Out Autocentres first opened its Brackmills site in 2018 I was keen to find out more about the BID and promptly became a director. The BID team were looking for an office so I donated office space which is still the BID team’s permanent home.
“I am incredibly proud to be the BID’s new chair and keen to get to know as many of our Brackmills businesses as possible.”
Brackmills is home to more than 180 businesses and 11,000 employees and has held BID status for 15 years. A BID is an initiative in which businesses pool an annual levy and use the funds exclusively for the benefit of the estate.
“So many of the things you see on Brackmills now – the additional winter gritting, CCTV cameras, road improvements, additional security and clean green spaces – are because of the BID,” said its vice chair Charlotte Patrick. “Thanks to our ‘Yes’ vote, we will continue to build on all of this.
“Our vision is for Brackmills to continue to be recognised as the premier business and logistics park in the country and thanks to this vote we are confident about achieving this.”
