04 November 2021
Plans to raise the city’s profile even further nationally are outlined by GO! Southampton as they go to ballot – but the countdown is on to get those votes in.
The city’s Business Improvement District (BID), GO! Southampton works hard to ensure the city gets the recognition it deserves. The BID wants to retain momentum created in recent years to raise the city’s profile, attract visitors and boost the economy – all of which have pushed Southampton into the final eight to become the UK’s City of Culture 2025.
But, in order to keep that momentum going, businesses in Southampton need to cast their vote in favour of keeping GO! Southampton for another term and the countdown is on to vote before November 11.
Over the last five years, GO! Southampton has been raising Southampton’s profile through a series of events showcasing diversity within the city, including the most recent Re:Claim Street Festival in September. Events like this support Southampton’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2025, where the city has just made the longlist. GO! Southampton also seconded one of their own staff, Gemma Nichols, as the Commercial and Marketing Director for the bid as part of their contribution as City Partner.
GO! Southampton has also been working hard with businesses to support them during the pandemic through a comprehensive marketing support programme and keen to continue this work as they come out the other side of the renewal ballot.
Some of the achievements gained so far include:
- 4.7 million reach through the Visit Southampton website and social media
- 300k+ people have attended events organised/supported by the BID
- 2021 PR staycation campaign reached more than 65million
- We’ve Missed You So Much post lockdown campaign reached 4.2 million
As GO! Southampton’s 5-year term comes to an end, businesses have the chance to vote to keep the Business Improvement District for another term and keep the momentum going on the success so far. Plans for the next term include leading the commercial strategy for Southampton’s City of Culture 2025 bid and working ever-more closely with the cruise industry.
The BID works on supporting city centre businesses through promoting Southampton to visitors and new commercial partners as well as concentrating on vital areas such as increased security, tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, reducing unwanted graffiti and a host of other successful initiatives.
Businesses are being urged to return their ballot voting papers by Friday to ensure they are received and counted by November 11.
Claire Whitaker OBE, Bid Director for Southampton UK City of Culture said: “The work that GO! Southampton delivers across both our business and cultural organisations in the city is vital to the development and progression of our bid to becoming UK City of Culture in 2025. We have seen from other winning cities, such as Hull and Coventry that the support from the city’s Business Improvement District is an important component to the bid. We know that the UK City of Culture judging panel want to see support from across the city, and to date we have significant support from businesses in Southampton. GO! Southampton have been truly instrumental in this, and that is why we are supporting their vote YES campaign!”
Leigh Rengger Chief Marketing Officer at Solent University, Board Director and Chair of the Marketing Steering Group at GO! Southampton said: “When we first started our term 5 years ago, there was a real need for a platform upon which to really shout about the great things Southampton has to offer. We have a diverse city centre and hundreds of businesses – and we wanted to showcase them in the best possible way, to get people through the doors and really enjoying all that Southampton has. Through our coordinated marketing and events, we have already achieved much and we would welcome the opportunity to continue the work we are doing as businesses, visitors and residents are benefitting every day.
More information and how to vote can be found at www.gosouthampton.co.uk/ballot2021
