Business Improvement District

Reading Business Improvement District (BID) works on behalf of the 900 businesses based in the Reading Central and Abbey Quarter districts of the town centre, providing a number of key services and activties to help make the town centre a cleaner, safer and more attractive place to work and do business. 

In Reading we run two separate BIDs, the Reading Central BID and the Abbey Quarter BID, with two respective business plans which meets the needs of the BID levy payer. The BID is part of REDA, Reading's Economy & Destination Agency, and has its own dedicated team to manage services and activities. It is managed by the BID Manager and governed by two committees, the Reading Central BID Committee and the Abbey Quarter BID Committee, made up of key representative Reading businesses within each district. 

The BID works with a number of businesses of all shapes and sizes, from global corporates to small independents. Here's what some of our BID levy payers think about the BID:

• "Having a BID fulfills an essential role both in being a vehicle for communication and collaboration between town centre retailers and other stakeholders."
   Hicks Baker
• "[The BID] has contributed in large part to our  licensed businesses continue success. We are proud that, BID led, Reading has achieved ‘Purple Flag’ status again with a commendation for demonstrating best practice in the safe management of the night time economy for the public and our staff."
  Purple Turtle
• The Broad Street Mall was Reading’s original shopping centre and has been here for over 40 years so is best placed to see the positive contribution that the  BID has made through improved cleaning, spectacular Christmas  lights, attractive floral displays and an innovative cardboard collection service. It has undoubtedly helped place Reading as a top regional centre for retail and business.
  Broad Street Mall
• As a building society keen to go back to its roots by building strong links with its local community, Reading BID and involvement in it is key to Nationwide in Reading. The BID helps create an attractive retail environment with the extra services it provides. Nationwide is pleased to invest in Reading town centre.
  Nationwide Building Society