Nairn BID secures five-year term following renewal ballot
A Nairn business group will continue to operate in the town for another five-year term after winning a renewal ballot.
Enterprises in the town had a period of several weeks to cast their votes on whether the area should have a Nairn Business Improvement District (BID).
Nairn BID manager Lucy Harding said: “We are delighted with this result for the businesses of Nairn and of course for its residents and visitors.
"Everything the BID does is for the benefit of all who set foot in Nairn and this fantastic backing by the businesses shows that the BID is supported, that people want it and that we are making strides – Nairn is an ever-better place to do business, live, work and visit.
“This result is a testament to all we have achieved so far, and the BID board and I look forward to working with our members and other stakeholders to make even more improvements for Nairn over the next five years.”
BIDs work by imposing a levy on members, with the funds raised being used to organise events and activities aimed at boosting the profile and attractiveness of the area in order to encourage more customers for local businesses.
Some opposition to the BID was shown during the voting period as posters were displayed around some Nairn businesses calling for a No vote, with the main concerns relating to the compulsory levy imposed on individual businesses – whether or not they personally support the organisation.
An annual levy can go from £125 to £4000 a year depending on a business's rateable value of property.
A business plan for 2023-2028 was released ahead of the renewal ballot and is available online.
It states that the main aims for the second term of the BID will be promoting Nairn via the visitnairn.com channels as well as promoting events and street markets, with the development of a heritage trail around the town in the pipeline.
The programme also states that the BID will aim to ensure "a seat for Nairn’s businesses" at the decision-making tables and that they will partner with the Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the private sector and other agencies to develop proposals and initiatives to attract development to Nairn.
Morag Holding, chairwoman of Nairn BID, said: "We are delighted to be given a clear mandate from our members to continue our work to drive economic growth in Nairn."
