What does my business get from Winchester BID?
Winchester BID works to maintain and improve Winchester as a business destination and BID members benefit from the collective result. The BID predominantly works across four key themes: A Better Promoted City; A Safe and Secure City; A Clean, Attractive and Sustainable City; and A Thriving Business Community. If you are a BID member and would like to know more about our projects and services, please contact us and we can arrange to meet with you to discuss the benefits.

Who pays for Winchester BID?
Winchester BID is funded by its members. An annual levy is collected from each BID member, which is derived from 1.5% of the rateable value of their premises. The levy is then reinvested into projects and services that will benefit the city centre. The BID also raises additional funds from Winchester Business Centre, sponsorship of our city centre events and other project generated income. Full details of the BID’s finances are available from the ‘About’ section of this website.

How do I know whether I am a BID member?
Winchester BID operates within a defined geographical area and a map is available from the ‘About’ section of this website. If you are a non-domestic ratepayer with a hereditament (or property) within the BID area, you will automatically become a member. You do not need to do anything and we will contact you, however if you are a new business coming to Winchester, please do contact us as we would love to meet with you and explain the benefits you will receive from your BID membership.

I heard BIDs can be voted in or out?
A BID term is usually a five-year period (although it can be shorter in some circumstances). When a BID is developed, a feasibility period is entered and this is when proposed BID businesses can vote as to whether they would like a BID. At the end of each term the BID will go to ballot and again, existing BID businesses can vote whether they would like their BID to continue, or not. Winchester BID is currently in its fourth term, which will run until 31 March 2028.

When it comes to the vote, can the big businesses skew the result? 
The vote works on a “dual lock” system. This means that for the BID to win the ballot, it must win on both the majority of votes and majority of rateable value. This ensures that the ballot system is fair and bigger businesses cannot skew the overall result of the vote.

Are BIDs common or is it just a Winchester thing?
BIDs are becoming much more common as a way that businesses work together to invest collectively in local improvements. There are now over 330 operating in the UK, but they are also prevalent in Canada (where the concept was born), USA, Australia, Singapore and Europe, where they are sometimes called Business Improvement Zones.