Go Forth Stirling (BID)

What Go Forth Stirling (BID) does

Go Forth Stirling (legally Stirling City Centre BID Ltd, company number SC498145) is a not-for-profit Business Improvement District (BID) operating in Stirling, Scotland. Established in July 2017 following a successful ballot of city centre businesses, the organization represents more than 600 levy-paying business owners within the Stirling city centre BID zone and is currently in its second five-year term (Term 2, 2022-2027). It is governed as a company limited by guarantee, with a Board of Directors drawn from the local business community and a small operational team led by a BID Director and Project Director. The organization is not a technology company in the conventional sense; rather, it is a place-management and business advocacy body that invests in digital infrastructure, training, grants, marketing, and safety programmes on behalf of its levy payers.

Its core products and services include the forthcoming 'In Stirling' digital town hub (being developed in partnership with technology provider Loqiva for city-wide launch in 2026), a free public city centre Wi-Fi network launched in 2021 (reaching approximately 20,000 users annually and integrated with the Thistles Wi-Fi network), a free online CPD-accredited training platform launched in 2020 (with over 10,000 enrolments and an estimated £323,000 in member savings), business grants of up to £5,000 for shop front improvements, a Street Ambassador programme, wayfinding projects, Stirling Business Awards, and partnership-driven cost-savings (Eyebright Utilities for utilities/telecoms) and HR (STEP HR) and crime-intelligence (Retailers Against Crime/SentrySIS) services. The technology stack is built primarily on partner-delivered platforms (Loqiva for the digital hub) rather than proprietary in-house development.

The organization's revenue model is anchored by a mandatory BID levy collected from businesses within the defined zone based on rateable value, supplemented by external funding from Stirling Council, the Scottish Government, and partner organisations. The projected five-year levy fund for Term 1 was £1.6 million, and Scottish BIDs on average attract an additional 47p of external funding per £1 of levy raised, materially amplifying programme reach. Go Forth Stirling operates with a small team of 6 employees, with services distributed directly to levy-paying members through the BID team, online self-serve platforms, and partner channels. Its customers are exclusively UK-based and geographically concentrated in Stirling city centre, with no export or international footprint.

Name

Go Forth Stirling (BID)

Legal name

Stirling City Centre BID Ltd

Website

https://goforthstirling.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Go Forth Stirling is a not-for-profit Business Improvement District representing more than 600 levy-paying businesses in Stirling city centre, delivering digital infrastructure, training, grants, and city-centre improvement programmes funded by a mandatory levy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Stirling, Scotland

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. BID Levy: Go Forth Stirling is funded by a mandatory levy collected from businesses within the Stirling city centre BID zone. The levy is a required contribution from eligible businesses, forming the primary operating revenue of the organization. The projected five-year levy fund for Term 1 (2017-2022) was £1.6 million.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Go Forth Stirling BID is a not-for-profit Business Improvement District that pools mandatory levy contributions from more than 600 Stirling city centre businesses to deliver collectively funded services. Its core offerings include business grants (up to £5,000 for shop front improvements), a free CPD-accredited online training platform, an energy/utilities cost savings scheme, safety schemes, marketing support, and city centre environmental improvements (street planters, lighting, wayfinding, defibrillators).

Product overview

Go Forth Stirling BID operates as a Business Improvement District organization providing a portfolio of services to support Stirling city centre businesses, residents, and visitors. The core offerings include the 'In Stirling' digital town hub platform (developed with Loqiva), a free public Wi-Fi network, an online training platform, business grants, street ambassador programs, wayfinding projects, and events such as the Stirling Business Awards and photography festival. The organization functions as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, representing over 600 business owners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• In Stirling: Digital town hub platform designed to become Stirling's online home, bringing together events, attractions, offers and local information for businesses, residents and visitors.
• Independent Stirling

Products and services

• Business Grants Program Grants programme providing funding to businesses within the Stirling city centre BID zone for shop front improvements, with grants of up to £5,000 available for repairs, upgrades, and enhancements.
• Online Training Platform Free online CPD-accredited training platform offering courses including fire training, alcohol licensing awareness, food safety, health & safety, safeguarding, and GDPR for BID member businesses and their staff.
• Free City Centre Wi-Fi Free public Wi-Fi service covering key outdoor areas across the Stirling city centre BID zone, providing connectivity for visitors and residents with approximately 20,000 annual users, integrated with Thistles Wi-Fi.
• In Stirling Digital Town Hub A city-wide digital ecosystem and platform connecting businesses, residents, and visitors. Provides businesses with their own dashboard and digital presence, allowing them to share offers, events, and updates, with features including interactive maps, geo-location, and direct customer engagement.
• Street Ambassador Program Team of ambassadors patrolling the city to liaise with business owners and provide information and advice to visitors, residents, and workers.
• Wayfinding Project Navigation and signage improvement project to help visitors find their way around Stirling city centre.
• City Centre Defibrillators Public access defibrillators installed throughout Stirling city centre BID zone for emergency medical use.
• Stirling Business Awards Annual awards programme recognising and celebrating outstanding Stirling businesses across multiple categories including Restaurant of the Year, Retailer of the Year, and New Business of the Year; the 2026 edition received more than 2,200 nominations and 16,000+ votes.
• Energy Cost Savings Scheme Partnership with Eyebright Utilities to help BID zone businesses secure better costs for utilities, water, and telecoms, cutting costs by an average of £1.5K to £3K per year per business.
• Safety Schemes (Pubwatch and SentrySIS Crime Intelligence) City centre safety schemes including the fully digitised Pubwatch communications system for pubs/clubs and the SentrySIS crime intelligence partnership with Retailers Against Crime, providing real-time alerts and briefings on thefts and anti-social behaviour.

Quantifiable outcome

• £323K in training cost savings for BID members since 2020, with 10,364 enrolments recorded
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LoqivacoreTechnology or Integration · 29 June 2026Go Forth Stirling is partnering with Loqiva as the technology provider for the 'In Stirling' digital town hub platform. Loqiva's co-founder Barry Conlon stated that the platform will give Stirling ownership of its own digital presence — a single trusted source bringing together businesses, events, culture, and everyday life. Loqiva will deliver the technology infrastructure enabling businesses to manage their own profiles, dashboards, and customer engagement tools within the platform.
• Eyebright UtilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGo Forth Stirling has a partnership with Eyebright Utilities to work with businesses in the BID zone to secure the best costs for utilities, water, and telecoms. Eyebright's Client Account Manager works with BID businesses to identify savings and reduce energy bills, achieving average savings of £1.5K to £3K per year per business. This is an ongoing service available to all levy payers.
• Stirling CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGo Forth Stirling complements the services provided by Stirling Council and statutory bodies. The two organizations have collaborated on multiple initiatives including the free city centre Wi-Fi (part-funded by a £47K Stirling Council grant), the Open Streets Festival, Stirling 900 celebrations, and various city environment and infrastructure projects. The BID acts as an additional layer of investment and service delivery on top of council services.
• Stirling Community EnterpriseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGo Forth Stirling partners with Stirling Community Enterprise to maintain Stirling city centre planters. The BID has taken over maintenance of 56 street planters in partnership with Stirling Community Enterprise, part of its broader environmental and city beautification programme.
• Historic Environment ScotlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric Environment Scotland has partnered with Go Forth Stirling BID and Stirling Council to celebrate local businesses. The partnership focuses on promoting Stirling's heritage alongside local commercial activity, particularly during major events and anniversaries such as the Stirling 900 celebrations.
• Retailers Against Crime (RAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGo Forth Stirling partners with Retailers Against Crime (RAC) to host intelligence briefings for Stirling's business community, focused on tackling shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. RAC provides access to the SentrySIS (Secure Intelligence System) database, a crime-fighting tool allowing users to view real-time information and alerts about thefts and crimes in the area. RAC and Go Forth co-host meetings to brief retailers on crime trends and prevention techniques.
• STEP HRminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGo Forth Stirling has partnered with STEP HR to offer specialist HR support to BID businesses. Levy-paying companies can access free professional guidance on HR matters including discipline, absence management, performance issues, recruitment, and redundancies. Project Director Danielle McRorie-Smith developed the initiative with STEP HR Director Vicky Murphy.
• Police ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGo Forth Stirling collaborates with Police Scotland on safety initiatives in the city centre, including Operation Steadfast (a summer safety initiative), the Pubwatch scheme, and intelligence sharing. The partnership supports the BID's mission to make Stirling a safer and more welcoming destination.
• Creative StirlingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGo Forth Stirling collaborates with Creative Stirling and the Stirling Place Partnership on initiatives such as 'Animating our Streets' — an event exploring ways local businesses and creative industries can work together to create a vibrant city centre.
• The Barracks Conference CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Barracks Conference Centre is a long-term partner of the Stirling Photography Festival, which Go Forth Stirling supports. The venue hosts festival previews and community exhibitions, including work by photographers celebrating Strathcarron Hospice.
• Tolbooth StirlingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Tolbooth is a long-term partner of the Stirling Photography Festival (now in its 9th year), which Go Forth Stirling sponsors. The award-winning music and arts venue in Stirling's old town hosts photography exhibitions as part of the annual festival programme.
• Macrobert Arts CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMacrobert Arts Centre is a partner of the Stirling Photography Festival, hosting exhibitions as part of the annual programme. Go Forth Stirling sponsors the festival and its events at the venue.
• Artlink CentralminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtlink Central in Upper Craigs, Stirling is a partner of the Stirling Photography Festival, hosting exhibitions as part of the annual programme supported by Go Forth Stirling.
• Street Level PhotoworksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStreet Level Photoworks partnered with Go Forth Stirling and Rock Archive to curate and present Jill Furmanovsky's 'Rebels and Renegades' exhibition at the Tolbooth as part of the Stirling Photography Festival.
• Rock ArchiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRock Archive, founded by Jill Furmanovsky in 1998, curated her exhibition 'Rebels and Renegades' in partnership with Street Level Photoworks and Go Forth Stirling as part of the Stirling Photography Festival.
• Royal Photographic SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Stirling Photography Festival team partnered with the Royal Photographic Society to host the RPS 2025 Documentary Photography Awards touring exhibition at Stirling's Smith Art Gallery & Museum. This is the first such partnership for the festival.
• Keep Scotland BeautifulminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGo Forth Stirling commissioned Keep Scotland Beautiful to conduct regular environmental audits of the city centre as part of the organisation's efforts to improve the local area. The environmental charity provides the BID team with audit reports and recommendations.
• Independent StirlingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent Stirling (independentstirling.co.uk) is a Go Forth Stirling campaign and platform focused on promoting independent businesses across the city. It serves as a digital directory, gift guide, and promotional vehicle. It has evolved into the platform for the 'In Stirling' app registration and the Stirling Business Awards microsite.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• British BIDs: UK-wide industry association supporting and representing Business Improvement Districts. Not a competitor but a comparably positioned organisation that anchors the UK BID ecosystem in which Go Forth Stirling operates.

Direct peers

• Manchester BID: BID for Manchester city centre representing a similar mix of retailers, hospitality, and office-based businesses. Delivers comparable member services, environmental improvements, and city centre marketing through a levy-funded model.
• Liverpool BID Company: BID administering city centre improvements and member services for Liverpool businesses. Runs comparable programmes including city safety, marketing, events, and training benefits funded by a levy on businesses within the BID zone.
• New West End Company: BID covering Bond Street, Oxford Street, and Regent Street in London. Closely comparable UK BID that delivers public realm improvements, marketing campaigns, member services, and digital initiatives funded by a mandatory levy on ratepayers.
• Essential Edinburgh: BID for Edinburgh city centre covering the Princes Street and Old Town area. Operates the same levy-funded model as Go Forth Stirling, providing business support, marketing, and environmental improvements to hundreds of city centre businesses.
• Heart of London Business Alliance: Business Improvement District for the central London area around Piccadilly, Leicester Square, and St James's. Operates a similar levy-funded model delivering safety, environment, marketing, and member services to hundreds of West End businesses.
• BID Leicester: Business Improvement District for Leicester city centre. Delivers standard BID services including city centre marketing, business support, environmental improvements, and events funded by a mandatory levy on in-zone businesses.
• Croydon BID: BID for Croydon town centre in Greater London. Operates a directly comparable model of levy-funded member services, public realm improvements, and city centre marketing to a base of several hundred businesses.
• Glasgow City Centre BID: Scottish BID operating in Glasgow city centre with a mandate, funding model, and service mix (training, marketing, grants, safety) nearly identical to Go Forth Stirling's. Operates at a larger scale but in the same Scottish regulatory framework.

Regional players

• Times Square Alliance: New York City BID managing the Times Square district. Operates the same BID model outside the UK, providing public space management, marketing, and member services funded by a special assessment on district properties.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/GoForthStirling
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQy8es_Wu_h7PbdKD0jC2lw
• Facebookfacebook.com/GoForthStirling
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/go-forth-stirling-bid
• Instagraminstagram.com/goforthstirling
• TikToktiktok.com/@goforthstirling

Compliance1 record

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 Go Forth Stirling (BID)