Blackpool Business Improvement Districts

What Blackpool Business Improvement Districts does

Blackpool Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) is a UK private limited company (registered in England & Wales) that operates two statutory Business Improvement District mandates — the Blackpool Town Centre BID and the Blackpool Tourism BID — on a not-for-profit basis. It functions as a member-funded collective through which more than 400 Blackpool town centre businesses and organisations pay an annual levy based on rateable value to fund services above the baseline provided by Blackpool Council. The first BID was established in October 2005, and the organisation has secured a further mandate through 31 March 2031 following a December 2025 renewal ballot that returned 87.8% support by number and 95% by rateable value.

The organisation's core product portfolio comprises safety schemes (Shopwatch connecting 60+ retailers via a dedicated police- and CCTV-linked radio network; Blackpool & Fylde Pubwatch with 180+ hospitality members), event initiatives such as the inaugural Blackpool Restaurant Week (March 2025, returning March 2026), and the GO Blackpool mobile application launched in July 2024, which has accumulated over 10,000 downloads and serves as a dual-sided digital hub for residents, visitors, and levy-paying businesses with geo-targeted notifications and themed interactive tours. Underlying technology is a consumer mobile app with location-based push messaging; no public API, SDK, or AI/ML capability is disclosed.

Revenue mechanics rely on a recurring BID levy (the new 2026-2031 term commits over £1.8 million), tiered Shopwatch subscriptions (£200-£500+VAT per year depending on business type), and external co-funding from partners such as the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the UK Government Getting Building Fund, and Historic England. The customer base is composed almost entirely of Blackpool-located SMBs in retail, hospitality, food and beverage, and tourism verticals, with the visitor economy (approximately 18 million annual visits to Blackpool) as the indirect beneficiary market.

Name

Blackpool Business Improvement Districts

Legal name

Blackpool Business Improvement Districts Limited

Website

https://blackpoolbid.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Blackpool Business Improvement Districts is a not-for-profit membership organisation operating statutory Town Centre and Tourism BIDs in Blackpool, UK. It collects levies from 400+ local businesses to fund safety schemes, events, and the GO Blackpool mobile app.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Improvement District Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (56152), Tour Operators (561520)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Honeymoon & Romance Travel Agencies (THAKAFAC)

Keywords

• Business improvement district
• Town centre management services
• Retail safety schemes
• Hospitality Pubwatch network
• Tourism destination marketing

Headquarters

HQ city

Blackpool

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. BID Levy: Local businesses within the defined BID area vote to invest together and pay an annual levy based on their rateable value. Since 2005, local businesses have invested over £4 million through this mechanism. The new term (2026-2031) will see over £1.8 million invested across safety, cleanliness, business support, digital innovation and promotional activity.
2. Shopwatch Membership Fees: Annual membership fees for the Shopwatch scheme, which connects retailers via a dedicated radio network. Fees vary by business type: National businesses pay £500+VAT per year, Independents pay £290+VAT per year, and Charitable organisations pay £200+VAT per year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Blackpool BIDs is a not-for-profit, member-funded partnership organization that collects an annual levy from over 400 town centre businesses and reinvests it into enhanced safety patrols, environmental cleaning, marketing, events, and digital services that go beyond Blackpool Council baseline provision. It also operates coordinated safety schemes (Shopwatch and Pubwatch) and the dual-purpose GO Blackpool mobile app connecting local businesses, residents, and approximately 18 million annual visitors.

Product overview

Blackpool Business Improvement Districts operates a portfolio of services for the town centre, with the GO Blackpool app as the primary digital product. The app provides a digital hub for locals, visitors and businesses featuring shopping deals, food/drink offers, local events, news, live transport updates and interactive tours. Supporting services include the Shopwatch scheme (retail safety network) and Blackpool & Fylde Pubwatch scheme (hospitality safety), plus the annual Blackpool Restaurant Week event. The BID also provides physical services including safety patrols, environmental improvements and seasonal displays for over 400 member businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GO Blackpool App: Official digital hub created by Blackpool BIDs to connect locals, visitors and businesses. Free app offering shopping deals, food and drink offers, local events, news, live transport updates and interactive guides.

Products and services

• GO Blackpool App Free mobile app serving as the official digital hub for Blackpool's BIDs, connecting locals, visitors and businesses with shopping deals, food and drink offers, local events, news, live transport updates and interactive guides.
• Shopwatch Scheme Retail safety initiative connecting over 60 retailers via a dedicated radio network, linking directly with police and town centre CCTV control room to reduce shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and enhance staff safety. Membership tiers: National businesses £500+VAT/year, Independents £290+VAT/year, Charitable organisations £200+VAT/year.
• Blackpool & Fylde Pubwatch Scheme Hospitality safety scheme with over 180 members working with police and council partners. Members share information and take joint action to ban individuals involved in violence or disorder, and receive conflict management training and coordinated safety campaign support.
• Blackpool Restaurant Week Annual food and drink celebration event showcasing Blackpool's dining scene with exclusive menus, tasting events and special deals across participating venues.
• Town Centre BID Services Business Improvement District services including safety patrols, environmental improvements, seasonal displays (including additional Christmas illumination), on-street security and cleaning services beyond council baseline levels, and events support for over 400 town centre businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £4 million invested in town improvements since 2005
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Blackpool CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Blackpool Council is a key strategic partner in all BID activities. The council has provided consistent and constructive support in developing BID Business Plans for 2026 to 2031, including establishing Baseline Service Levels and an Operating Agreement for levy collection.
• VisitBlackpoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Blackpool's official tourism company partnered on marketing campaigns and the Illuminations Switch-On event. The Tourism BID works with VisitBlackpool to promote Blackpool as a visitor destination.
• BBC Radio LancashiremajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2025BBC Radio Lancashire was announced as the official partner for the Blackpool Illuminations Switch-On event, with breakfast presenter Graham Miller hosting the event.
• Little Blackpool LeisuremajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2025Independent hospitality company that operates Abingdon Street Market. Focused on food, drink, and leisure experiences with commitment to regeneration, creating a destination celebrating local talent and global flavours.
• North & Western Lancashire Chamber of CommercecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 3 September 2025Delivery partner for the Retail Renaissance Programme, a fully funded initiative worth up to £3,000 per place designed to help retailers strengthen their customer offer, grow sales and build resilience.
• Customer LovecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 3 September 2025Programme partner for the Retail Renaissance Programme alongside the Chamber of Commerce and Boost Lancashire's Business Growth Hub.
• Boost Lancashire's Business Growth HubcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 3 September 2025Programme partner for the Retail Renaissance Programme, providing business growth support and expertise to Blackpool retailers.
• VINCI BuildingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 5 June 2025Construction partner for the new Ministry of Defence office at Talbot Gateway, delivering the 53,000 sq ft purpose-built office for Defence Business Services.
• Defence Infrastructure OrganisationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 5 June 2025MOD body overseeing the delivery of the new office facility as part of the Defence Estate Optimisation programme, a £5.1 billion UK-wide investment in modernising defence infrastructure.
• Muse PlacescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2025Development partner for the £350 million Talbot Gateway regeneration, working alongside Blackpool Council and VINCI Building to deliver major infrastructure projects.
• Blackpool Council Protection TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 May 2025Joint partnership operation tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in the town centre. Officers carried out high-visibility patrols focused on aggressive street drinking, ASB, and illegal e-bike use, resulting in 12 arrests and 6 Community Protection Warnings.
• Lancashire PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 May 2025Ongoing partnership with Neighbourhood Police and Task Force to tackle crime. Police support the Shopwatch and Pubwatch schemes, providing intelligence sharing and coordinated response to incidents.
• Task ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 May 2025Joint partnership with Blackpool Town Centre BID, Council's Protection Team, and Neighbourhood Police to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour through high-visibility patrols.
• Blackpool Community Safety PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 May 2025Supporting the Pubwatch scheme which is open to businesses such as takeaways and taxi firms, providing a coordinated approach to safety across the night-time economy.
• The Makers MarketmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2025Partnership between Blackpool BIDs and Blackpool Council to bring the nationally acclaimed artisan event to St John's Square and later Winter Gardens, celebrating Lancashire's artists, bakers, and designers.
• Blackpool Tourism BIDcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 April 2025Joint delivery of Blackpool Restaurant Week and other tourism initiatives. The Tourism BID focuses on promoting the visitor economy while the Town Centre BID focuses on retail sector support.
• Blackpool and The Fylde CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2025Educational partner in Blackpool Restaurant Week, hosting pre-launch event at Level 6 training restaurant. Students prepared 'Best of British' menu and participated in pop-up kitchens and food demonstrations.
• Lytham FestivalmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 March 2025Sponsor and partner of Blackpool Restaurant Week, contributing to the celebration of Blackpool's food and drink scene.
• AfterAthenamajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 24 April 2024Business support partner offering 'Freemium' service to levy payers - instant access via app to hundreds of HR, employment, and health and safety resources that can be tailored to meet organisations' specific needs.
• Blackpool UnlimitedcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 13 March 2024Partnership providing Blackpool Net Zero Business Academy (energy audits) and Blackpool Growth Business Academy (growth and scale-up specialists) along with FREE events and workshops for BID members.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Marketing Manchester: Manchester's destination marketing organization promoting the city to visitors and businesses, similar in tourism-promotion function to Blackpool BID's Tourism BID arm. Partial overlap in destination marketing mandate.
• Marketing Lancashire: County-level destination marketing organization for Lancashire, supporting tourism and business promotion in the broader region that includes Blackpool. Partial overlap in tourism marketing and event support.

Direct peers

• Birmingham City Centre BID: Major UK BID operating in Birmingham city centre, delivering marketing, events, and safety services funded through business levies. Closely comparable in structure, scale, and member engagement approach.
• Liverpool BID Company: Liverpool city centre BID providing safety, cleaning, and marketing services to member businesses via levy funding. Direct peer in the North West region operating the same Business Improvement District model.
• New West End Company: London's West End BID representing 600+ businesses, coordinating marketing, events, and safety services through a levy-funded model. Direct functional peer to Blackpool BID in delivering collective business improvement services.
• Manchester BID: One of the largest UK BIDs serving Manchester city centre businesses through collective levy-funded services including safety, marketing, and environmental improvements—directly comparable in model and mission to Blackpool BID.
• Sheffield BID: Sheffield city centre BID delivering collective services to member businesses through levy funding, with focus on safety, marketing, and town centre vibrancy—same model as Blackpool BID.
• Heart of London Business Alliance: Operates one of London's largest BIDs covering the West End, providing security, street cleaning, and marketing services to member businesses through compulsory levies—same BID model applied to a different town centre.

Others

• The BID Foundation: UK industry body representing Business Improvement Districts, providing training, advocacy, and best practice guidance. Industry association serving BIDs including Blackpool BID.

Regional players

• VisitBlackpool: Blackpool's official tourism company, sister organization to Blackpool BID, jointly delivering destination marketing campaigns and events including the Illuminations Switch-On. Closely allied in mission and geography.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BlackpoolBIDs
• Facebookfacebook.com/BlackpoolBID
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blackpoolbids
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackpoolbids

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Blackpool Business Improvement Districts