We welcome applications to join our team for an exciting role as BID Manager. Please use the contact details in this page should you have further questions.
Job description
BID Background
A Business Improvement District (BID) is a business-led and business-funded body formed to improve a defined commercial area. Through a BID, businesses are represented and have a voice in issues affecting their trading area and are able to implement initiatives to increase local footfall and spend, reduce business costs and enhance marketing and promotion of the area.
After many years of research and development on the feasibility of a ‘BID for the Blue’, proposals were put to a ballot of businesses in July 2014 and received a majority yes vote. In October of that year, after forming a board to oversee operations, Blue Bermondsey BID began on the first tentative steps of its mission to bring about positive change for the local business community.
In the 10 years since the Blue Bermondsey Bid has been instrumental in improving the local area, both attracting new businesses, cultural and regeneration initiatives to the area. These include the LowLine (an urban regeneration initiative connecting diverse neighbourhoods through Bankside, London Bridge, and Bermondsey) and a wide range of annual cultural events such as the hugely popular annual London Okinawa Day, The Castellers of London (and their human towers!) and the popular annual Bermondsey Carnival in Southwark Park.
As well as the support it provides to its business membership, the Blue Bermondsey BID takes a whole-community approach, seeing economy, culture, and community as deeply connected. The BID has levered in substantial external funding to support its work, most notably securing £2m from the GLA Good Growth Fund for the ‘Made In Bermondsey’ regeneration project, centred on the rejuvenation of the Blue Market Place. The BID continues to serve its business members, encourage further investment and lead on a coherent long term vision and strategy for a growing business district, and the wider community, by creating a thriving, more inclusive economy, and a connected area where people can live, work and trade together.
Renewal ballots in October 2019 and November 2023 mean that the BID is now in its third term. The BID has 432 members and an annual levy out-turn of £103k / year.
This is a time of change for the BID, and the Blue Bermondsey area, which brings both challenges and huge opportunities. Building on the pioneering work of its previous manager, we need a post-holder who can work with the Board to further shape the BID, professionalise its operations and outputs, and ensure it is stable and fit for the future. As the area undergoes massive change as a result of major development projects and regeneration, the BID will be key to ensuring that change benefits all local businesses, and helps to stimulate a thriving economy, and a place people love to live, work and trade.
Principal Accountabilities
The job entails the following activities:
- To take principal responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Blue Bermondsey BID
- To be the key point of contact for BID member businesses
- To manage the activities of the Blue Bermondsey BID Board including programming an active Business Support and Event programme in the local area
- To implement all BID projects as set out in the BID Proposal. These include:
- A visible and effective marketing, media and event strategy to encourage more awareness and footfall to the Blue BID area
- Developing a full and relevant business support programme for BID members
- Leading on initiatives such as sustainability and greening initiatives that make the Blue a better place to work and live.
- To develop and implement new and innovative projects that will benefit the Blue BID area beyond those set out in the BID Proposal
- To engage with external stakeholders and partners, including Southwark Council, other local BID’s and developers, in and around the BID area, always promoting the interests of the BID and its business members
- To take lead responsibility for the financial management of the BID
- To manage any programme or event contractors to ensure efficient and effective delivery
- To design and implement an appropriate level of performance measurement (e.g. KPIs, both internal and external)
- To seek additional funding for the BID, over and above the BID levy, including researching and writing funding bids.
Terms & Conditions
- Hours of work will be 24 per week (equivalent to 3 days) in the post of BID Manager, including occasional evening and weekend working. Flexible working is possible.
- It is assumed that the BID Manager will be on payroll but it might be possible for a contractor to assume the position, assuming the arrangement complies with HMRC regulations.
- 25 days holiday per annum (pro rata), in addition to public holidays.
- £40,000-£42,000 FTE per annum pro rata depending on experience
- There will be a probationary period of three months
- Contributory pension after probation period
Person specification
Essential Knowledge and experience
- Technical knowledge of company management, e.g. budgeting & financial management, bookkeeping, administration of board meetings, management of stakeholders, volunteers & contractors
- Understanding of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs)
- Experience of working in partnership with other organisations and stakeholders
- Experience in operations management and/or town centre management
- Experience of working within a corporate business environment
- Experience in middle or senior management
Desirable knowledge and experience
- Knowledge of the Blue Bermondsey area and its businesses
- Technical knowledge of key aspects of place management, e.g. procurement & management of day-to-day services, communications to stakeholders, performance management
- An understanding of the dynamics and needs of a culturally diverse local area, and the importance of the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in place- making and local economy.
Skills and abilities
- Well organised, and able to work independently
- Highly literate and numerate
- Good level of IT skills, using a variety of software packages
- Credible and persuasive in a business environment
- Good communication skills, including the ability to write and speak clearly
- Confident, and able to ‘doorstep’ businesses to talk about BID initiatives
Applications
Please email your CV, tailored to the job, and a cover letter, of not more than 500 words, outlining why you think you’re the best person for the role and how you match the person specification.
How to apply
Emails us by 5pm on Friday 2nd August 2024. Please email your CV, tailored to the job, and a cover letter, of not more than 500 words, outlining why you think you’re the best person for the role and how you match the person specification, to:
media@bluebermondsey.co.uk
Deadline for application
Email us by 5pm on Friday 2nd August 2024.
Inclusion and diversity statement
We present work for everyone and we welcome applications from people from a Black, Asian or Ethnically Diverse background or those who are D/deaf or disabled, or other marginalized communities.
By attracting people to work for us from a broad range of backgrounds with diverse attitudes, opinions and beliefs, we can continue to look at the world with fresh eyes and find new ways of doing things.