Year 8 Business Plan
2024 is well underway and we are looking forward to a busy year. Improving city centre safety and tackling crime and anti-social behaviour will remain a priority for us as we continue to work with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, Southampton City Council and other
strategic partners on these issues.
Throughout the year, we will be working on exciting new projects to enhance the city centre experience for residents, workers, and visitors alike. Projects include animating and restoring life into East Street, delivering public art and supporting accessibility and inclusivity initiatives. To complement these experience projects our marketing campaigns will showcase the very best of what the city has to offer for all audiences, particularly targeting regional and national visitors into the city. Developing the Visit Southampton website and social media channels will play a fundamental part in our marketing plans as we drive the channels as the leading visitor website for the city.
All our plans will adapt and flex to the needs of you, our businesses. Therefore, whilst our core projects will remain, we will deliver new initiatives throughout the year.
Read below the ‘Top 5’ projects for each of our theme groups that we will work to achieve in 2024/2025.
Better Marketing
- Implement improvements to the Visit Southampton website and social media channels to ensure its effective use as the leading tourism platform for the city
- Work with a PR agency and partners to raise Southampton’s profile as a visitor destination
- Plan and deliver effective marketing campaigns that focus on seasonal/national holidays, sectors or specific areas of the BID as well as supporting third-party and local campaigns
- Enhance BID datasets to monitor footfall, spend and consumer behaviour and use data to inform and evaluate projects, services and events
- Offer marketing services to BID members that will help them grow their own business
Culture, Events & Partnerships
- Offer a sponsorship programme for third-party events in the city consisting of micro and major grants
- Work with partners to deliver an exciting Christmas event that attracts local and regional visitors into the city centre
- Curate a programme of business events and training for our BID members
- Market and promote BID events, sponsored events and citywide events to local and regional audiences, including students, residents and workers
- As Founding Partner, work with Southampton Forward to improve the tourism offer in the city and drive the Festival and Events strategy
Greater City Centre Experience
- Uphold our dedication to safeguarding businesses from instances of anti-social behaviour and theft, for a secure and enjoyable city centre environment for all stakeholders, especially city centre workers
- Complement the city’s cleaning efforts with additional cleaning services for the BID area including graffiti and fly tipping removal as well as hot washing and an annual deep clean
- Renew the Purple Flag accreditation, promote the positive perceptions of our city after 5pm and pioneer innovative technology to support the night-time economy
- Provide training to enhance the visitor experience and support initiatives which help foster an accessible and inclusive city centre for all
- Continue to be involved in enhancing the visitor experience, which includes initiatives such as street decoration, animation, public realm projects and improving the welcome to the city
Stronger Business
- Champion the agreement of a city narrative to attract investors and businesses that will bring high paid employment to the city
- Support the welcome for major businesses moving into the city, and promote lunchtime offerings which attract people to work in the city
- Invest in a cost-effective year-round street lighting program that not only enhances the city’s ambience and attracts visitors but also serves as a long-term solution, saving money typically spent on seasonal lighting installations
- Support and contribute to the city’s economic growth and masterplanning
- Utilise placemaking strategies to develop the identity of independent shopping areas within the city centre and attract businesses to occupy vacant units
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✔ Work with partners to make the city centre a safer place
✔ Support our vibrant night-time economy with safety initiatives
✔ Maintain a good level of cleanliness across the BID area
✔ Raise awareness around diverted giving to tackle begging
✔ Contribute to the city’s economic growth and investment
✔ Improve the vibrancy and atmosphere in public areas across the city centre
✔ Welcome cruise passengers to the city
✔ Implement improvements to the Visit Southampton website
✔ Deliver an exciting Countdown to Christmas event
✔ Provide marketing for specific sectors and areas of the BID
✔ Raise Southampton’s profile as a regional and national visitor destination
✔ Offer a sponsorship programme for thirdparty events in the city
Check back here soon to learn more about our Year 8 business plan, including a breakdown of the budget for each of our programmes of work.