Businesses in St Andrews have been invited to a special open meeting for an update on the town’s Business Improvement District (BID) initiative.
The event, which will also explore wider business opportunities for 2015, will be held in the Byre Theatre at the end of the month, and is offering a varied programme, networking opportunities, and a range of speakers.
The Business Improvement District (BID) movement has been steadily growing all over Scotland, and St Andrews is one of the latest in Scotland to try to bring local businesses together to plan for the future.
People from across the commercial community have joined the BID steering group, and a ballot later this year will decide if a formal BID should be established.
Speakers at the event will include BID chairman Ken Dalton, who will outline the aims and progress of the BID.
Fife Council’s lead officer in town centre development, David Grove, will speak about the key actions in the run-up the ballot, and Malcolm Brown, chairman of “Queensferry Ambition”, the South Queensferry BID, will outline how businesses in his area are already being helped.
The meeting will also explore wider business opportunities, with Manuela Calchini, VisitScotland’s South of Scotland regional partnership manager, exploring the potential of 2015 Year of Food and Drink. Liam Barn, Fife Golf Partnership project manager, will speak about opportunities at this year’s Open Championship in St Andrews.
An informal session will be held at the end of the meeting, where businesses can learn from Police Scotland about cash machine fraud, and see the BigBelly solar power compacting smartbins which are helping to deal with litter problems elsewhere in the country.
Participants will also be able to learn more about the revival of the Byre Theatre itself through the work of St Andrews University.
The meeting will take place on Tuesday January 27, from 5.30pm-8pm. Places are free, but booking is required. Places can be reserved by email to info@bidstandrews.co.uk or telephone 07977 510 435.