Two full time members of staff to help in all aspects of the BID as Town Centre Manager role ends

Just before Christmas Putney businesses voted to become a Business Improvement District (BID)* which became operational on 1st April 2017 and yesterda (11th May) launched its first project BID Ambassadors.

The BID has funded two full time Street Ambassadors to help in all aspects of the BIDs work. Employed through The Welcome People who operate in BIDS across the country, the team will be deployed across the week. They started today and are instantly recognisable by their panama hats, blue jackets and most importantly their big smiles. They will be happy to help wherever they can.

Their job is very varied, principally they will visit all businesses on a regular basis to exchange information, ensuring that businesses are getting the best out of the BID services and projects.

They will act as the eyes and ears of the BID and report environmental and other issues in Putney, so that we can ensure that Putney is the best it can be for businesses, staff and visitors. They will record what they see on handheld devices so that the BID can produce data about what is happening and work to resolve issues.

They will work closely with the statutory services – Wandsworth Council, Metropolitan Police, and Transport for London to highlight any issues that may cause concern for businesses such as graffiti, litter, illegal street trading, faulty street lights, broken pavements and anti social behaviour.

Lastly they will provide information and a welcoming service for visitors, workers and residents. They will help to promote Putney to visitors, direct them to the river, train station, signpost them to cultural activities, shopping, and events in order to make every visit to Putney a positive one.

* What is a BID?
A BID is a business-led, business-funded partnership which undertakes to make improvements in a clearly defined geographical area. There are more than 250 BIDs nationally, including Kingston and Wimbledon. The Putney BID area is:



BIDs may carry out any projects or improvements that are additional to those already provided by the local authority which means that the funding cannot be pulled from services that are already provided in your business rates. BIDs establish baseline agreements with the local authorities and other statutory services providers on the current level of service provision in the area. These ensure that any services the BID provides are truly additional.

BIDs are funded by the businesses that benefit from them, and the money is ring fenced so that it can only be spent within the BID area on initiatives that have been agreed in a formal business plan.

May 12, 2017