Being part of The Great Border City Business Improvement District (BID) gives small and independent traders in Carlisle a stronger, united voice in shaping the city’s future. The BID is led by local business representatives who understand the everyday challenges faced by independent traders and small enterprises, the SME sector is by far the biggest part of Carlisle's business community. By pooling resources, businesses can achieve improvements that wouldn’t be possible alone from enhanced marketing and events that bring local people back into the city and draw more visitors, to cleaner, safer, and more vibrant streets and business parks that attract footfall and investment.

Crucially, every business has a say. The BID is designed to work for its members, by its members, meaning decisions are guided by those who know Carlisle best: its business community.

Being part of The Great Border City BID ensures your voice isn’t just heard — it helps lead the direction of Carlisle’s growth and success. Please read the manifesto which has the themes we expect to work in initially from reaching out to businesses in the past year or so, think of how you want to get involved or what you think we can do to help or improve Carlisle and crucially VOTE YES in the ballot from 31st October!!

In the meantime the BID will be holding drop ins with support from the Chamber on 22nd October at Armstrong Watson, Rosehill 10am -12 noon and Lloyds Tractors, Kingstown 1pm-3pm as well as The Lanes Shopping Centre date and time TBC, so come along, ask questions and find out more!!

Lesley Robinson, the Chamber’s Head of Business Support sits on the BID steering group and recently spoke at the BID launch event at Tullie on the impact a BID will have on business.

“We all know times are challenging for business but there are also significant opportunities and there are real signs from businesses that they are ready to drive forward and plan for the future.

There are a number of benefits to Carlisle being a business improvement district and the Chamber is committed to supporting and working in partnership with the BID and other key stakeholders for the benefit of businesses of all sizes and in all sectors.

Part of the BID’s remit will be to promote and revitalise the City through various events, festivals and promotions with the aim of attracting people to the city increasing footfall and visitor numbers. This in turn will lead to a rise in customer spend particularly for those working in hospitality, tourism and retail. By restoring pride in the City and increasing its positive visibility people will be drawn to Carlisle which in turn will help with staff recruitment and retention in all sectors.

As the county’s leading business representation organisation one of the Chamber’s roles is to support and advocate on behalf of business, a role we have undertaken for the last 24 years.

Levy payers will have a stronger collective local voice and working in partnership with the BID the Chamber can add significant weight through our policy and representation work, events and networking and business support arm Cumbria Business Growth Hub.

Adding further weight to the work already undertaken by the Chamber, the BID will act as an intermediary with Cumberland Council, the police and other authorities, speaking on behalf of and representing the best interests of business.

As a Chamber we will seek to ensure the BID supports collaboration within the BID area, working to build partnerships and shared initiatives. We will listen to business concerns, challenges and issues and working closely with the BID we’ll be designing a specific programme of business support activity for levy payers.

Our role is to support businesses to develop, grow and prosper and we’ll be working with the BID to deliver a whole range of support based not on what we think businesses want but what they actually tell us they need.

This is an exciting opportunity and one which Cumbria Chamber of Commerce fully supports and we look forward to working closely with Adrian, Kevin and the team to make Carlisle great again!”