High Wycombe BID Company

What High Wycombe BID Company does

High Wycombe BID Company (HWBIDCo) is a not-for-profit Business Improvement District organisation incorporated as HWBIDCo Ltd, established in 2012 to represent and deliver services to over 700 businesses in High Wycombe town centre, Buckinghamshire, UK. The organisation operates under a statutory BID mandate renewed in June 2022 for a third five-year term running to 30 September 2027, with 87% approval by number of businesses and 97% by rateable value. Its primary function is to coordinate collective business interests across five thematic pillars: Better for Business, Safe and Secure, Marketing the Town, Festivals and Events, and Enhance and Evolve.

HWBIDCo's service portfolio spans a digital platform (MyWycombe.com website with 500+ business listings, town brand social media across Facebook/Instagram/TikTok/X with 10,000+ combined following, Town Centre WiFi, Town Trails, Seedl Learning), a Business Security Partnership (Shopwatch/Pubwatch with 100+ active members, DISC app for intelligence sharing, Radio Scheme, BCRP accreditation, Wycombe Sanctuary night-time safe space), events (FrogFest, Christmas Lights Switch-On delivering 700% footfall uplift, Desborough Carnival), environmental services (750+ floral installations, cardboard collection, Town Tidy), and community programmes (Diverted Giving Points, Community Payback, Employee Discount App, Shop Wycombe Gift Card across 60+ businesses, High Street Business Awards). Operational technology relies on off-the-shelf tools rather than proprietary systems.

Revenue is generated through a mandatory BID levy of 1.1% of rateable value (0.9% for serviced shopping centres; exempt under £2,500), collected by Buckinghamshire Council on HWBIDCo's behalf, with a forecast annual levy income of £311,831 at 96% collection. Additional income is sourced from grants (Community Board, Arts Council) and supplementary activities; £417,000 in above-levy income has been attracted over the first two terms, bringing total investment to approximately £1.3m. The organisation employs a core team of three (CEO Sue Hynard, Safe & Secure Coordinator, Business Engagement Coordinator) supported by an elected board of 12 directors representing levy-paying businesses.

Name

High Wycombe BID Company

Legal name

HWBIDCo Ltd

Website

https://hwbidco.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

High Wycombe BID Company (HWBIDCo) is a not-for-profit Business Improvement District representing over 700 businesses in High Wycombe town centre, UK, funded by a mandatory levy and delivering collective services including town centre security, marketing, events, and environmental improvements through a small core team and elected board.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Town Centre Management Services

NAICS

Waste Management and Remediation Services (562)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAJAHAM

Association Maintenance, Vendor & Capital Project Management

Business & Public Services/Real Estate Services (Brokerage, Property Management)/HOA/Condominium Association Management

SECONDARYTHAMAKAN

HOA/Community Rules Management & Neighbor Relations

Travel & Hospitality/Vacation Rentals & Short-Term Stays/Vacation Rental Property Management & Co-Hosting

Keywords

• Business improvement district
• Town centre management
• BID levy services
• Town centre marketing
• Business crime reduction

Headquarters

HQ city

High Wycombe

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. BID Levy: Annual levy charged to businesses in the BID area based on rateable value. Standard rate is 1.1% of rateable value, reduced to 0.9% for businesses in serviced shopping centres. Hereditaments under £2,500 rateable value are exempt. Buckinghamshire Council collects and enforces the levy on behalf of HWBIDCo.
2. Additional Grants and Funding: HWBIDCo attracts additional above-levy income through grants and funding. The organization has attracted £417,000 in additional funding, bringing total investment to approximately £1.3m. Funding sources include Community Board grants and Arts Council grants.
3. Event and Marketing Services: Free promotional opportunities provided to BID levy payers including social media features, town noticeboard advertising, lamp post banners, and e-newsletter features. Some services may generate nominal income from space utilization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

High Wycombe BID Company (HWBIDCo) is a not-for-profit Business Improvement District that operates as a democratically elected partnership representing over 700 levy-paying businesses in High Wycombe town centre. It delivers town centre management services funded by a mandatory BID levy (1.1% of rateable value), encompassing business representation, crime reduction partnerships (Shopwatch, Pubwatch, Radio Scheme), town marketing (MyWycombe digital platform and social channels), festivals and events (FrogFest, Christmas Lights Switch-On, Desborough Carnival), and environmental enhancements (town greening, town tidy, cardboard collection).

Product overview

High Wycombe BID Company is a not-for-profit Business Improvement District offering a portfolio of town centre management services, digital platforms, safety initiatives, and event programs for over 700 businesses in High Wycombe town centre. The core offering centres on the My Wycombe digital platform (website, business directory, and social media channels) supplemented by safety and security services (Business Security Partnership with DISC app and Radio Scheme, Shopwatch, Pubwatch), event programming (FrogFest, Christmas Light Switch-On, Desborough Carnival), and environmental services (Town Greening, Cardboard Collection, Town Tidy). Additional offerings include the Shop Wycombe Gift Card, Employee Discount App, Town Trails maps, Video Content Production, High Street Business Awards, Town Centre WiFi, defibrillators, and community initiatives such as Wycombe Sanctuary, Community Payback, and Diverted Giving Points.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• My Wycombe Town centre website and brand identity launched in April 2021, serving as a one-stop-shop for local news, shopping information, offers and event listings with over 500 business directory listings for BID members.
• Business Security Partnership Safety and security service combining the DISC app for business intelligence sharing, the Radio Scheme for Shopwatch and Pubwatch membership groups, and BCRP accreditation to reduce anti-social behaviour and retail crime.
• Wycombe Sanctuary Community Hub Night-time economy safety initiative providing a dedicated safe space at All Saints Church operating 10pm-2am on weekends, offering recovery, respite and refreshment for visitors.
• Shop Wycombe Gift Card Town centre gift card program redeemable at over 60 businesses across High Wycombe town centre and Eden Shopping Centre, encouraging local spending.
• Employee Discount App Employee benefits program working with Eden Shopping Centre to extend discounted parking and retail/leisure discounts to all town centre employees within the BID area.
• FrogFest Annual family music festival attracting thousands of additional visitors to High Wycombe town centre. Expanded to FrogFest XTRA in 2026 as a two-day event with two live music stages.
• Christmas Lights Switch-On Annual Christmas event featuring live music, family entertainment, street performers, and special guests that attracts approximately 700% footfall increase compared to average days.
• High Street Business Awards Annual awards program recognizing businesses and individuals across eight categories including Independent Retailer of the Year, National Retailer of the Year, Hospitality Business of the Year, and People's Choice: Business of the Year.
• Cardboard Collection Service Free weekly cardboard collection service available exclusively to BID members, operating twice weekly to help businesses save money and provide environmental benefits.
• Town Greening and Dressing Seasonal displays including My Wycombe branded lamp post banners, town-wide bunting, noticeboards, murals, street art, and over 750 floral hanging baskets and planters.
• Town Trails Themed trail maps and guides including Best Little Indies Trail, Monster Hero Safari, Christmas Cheeky Elf Trail, and Heritage Trail, encouraging footfall and showcasing local businesses with QR codes for interactive experiences.
• Seedl Learning Learning platform providing local businesses and workers access to free unlimited learning through a range of courses.
• Diverted Giving Points Contactless giving boxes installed at Swan carpark, White Hart Street and High Street enabling public donations to support charities (Oasis Partnership and Action4Youth) instead of giving cash directly to street beggars.

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and supporting.

• Thames Valley PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for town centre safety and security. HWBIDCo employs Business Security Partnership coordinator and runs Shopwatch, Pubwatch and Radio schemes with police support. Joint initiatives include Community Hub/Wycombe Sanctuary for night-time economy safety, anti-social behaviour management, and increased policing patrols funded by HWBIDCo (£30,000 in 2025).
• Buckinghamshire CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal operating agreement for BID levy collection and enforcement. Partnership through Regeneration Board and Town Centre Partnership group. Collaboration on public realm improvements, planning responses, and baseline service commitments.
• Eden Shopping CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey anchor tenant partnership including joint employee discount app, security collaboration, and co-hosting events. Eden provides space for HWBIDCo events and the organization works with Eden's security team on retail crime prevention.
• Wycombe MuseumkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on MyWycombe.com website launch and town centre rebrand project made possible by Arts Council Grant. Partnership for heritage promotion and celebration of town's history.
• All Saints ChurchkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Wycombe Sanctuary/Community Hub providing safe space initiative for night-time economy. Open Friday nights 10pm-2am offering support for vulnerable people.
• Street AngelssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer organization supporting night-time economy safety. Part of the Community Hub initiative alongside police and church.
• Chiltern RangerssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity interest company managing local woodlands and green spaces. Partnership on train station greenery project, town greening initiatives, and volunteer recognition programs.
• Chiltern RailwayssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on train station greenery and environmental improvements around High Wycombe station, alongside Buckinghamshire New University.
• Buckinghamshire New UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in train station greenery project and broader town centre environmental initiatives.
• Network RailsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Priory Avenue footbridge public art project. Network Rail clearing litter and overgrown areas around railway embankments.
• Friends of Wycombe Art CentresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Priory Avenue footbridge public art project featuring local artists Dan 'Decreate' Wilson and Teakster.
• High Wycombe Community BoardkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for diverted giving boxes, community payback scheme, and various town centre improvement projects.
• Oasis PartnershipkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity partner for diverted giving scheme. Receives funds from contactless giving points to support homeless people and those with drug and alcohol issues.
• Action4YouthkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity partnership to reduce knife crime. Funds raised through diverted giving scheme support Breakout Programme - anti-knife and gang intervention for at-risk youth.
• Wycombe Homeless ConnectionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity partner supporting diverted giving scheme and addressing street begging issues in partnership with Oasis Partnership.
• One Recovery BuckssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in addressing drug-related activity and supporting individuals in the town centre alongside police.
• Wycombe Wanderers Football ClubsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrain station greenery project inspired by club's blue colors, creating nature and heritage-themed artwork.
• Civica Electoral ServicessupportingOthersIndependent body that ran the 2022 BID ballot. Administers the democratic process for BID renewal.
• Learn CCTVsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSecurity expert participating in Fight Back Against Retail Crime event, showcasing preventative technologies.
• SmokescreensupportingTechnology or IntegrationSecurity expert company co-coordinating retail crime prevention event with demonstrations of fogging machines and other protective equipment.
• HikvisionsupportingTechnology or IntegrationCCTV security technology provider participating in Safer Business Action Week event.
• SelectaDNAsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSecurity marking technology provider for retail crime prevention demonstrations.
• Secured by DesignsupportingTechnology or IntegrationPolice-approved security initiative participating in retail crime prevention event.
• MRS CommunicationssupportingTechnology or IntegrationCommunications provider participating in retail crime prevention event.
• Community Payback SchemesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Probation Service for supervised offenders to carry out unpaid work cleaning up town centre problem areas.
• Royal British LegionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilitary charity partnering on Armed Forces Day celebrations, fundraising at events.
• Wycombe Arts CentresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Desborough Carnival event, hosting acoustic stage and cultural activities.
• King's ChurchsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch partner in Desborough Carnival, hosting main stage for performances.
• CareyssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction company whose foundation volunteers at Action4Youth's Caldecotte Xperience, laying wheelchair-friendly footpaths.
• Wycombe Food HubsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood-related organization on HWBIDCo board. Trevor Snaith represents Wycombe Food Hub as director.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• New West End Company: Business Improvement District representing businesses in London's West End retail and leisure district. Directly comparable as a UK BID delivering town centre management, security, marketing, and policy representation for levy-paying businesses.
• Belfast BID: Business Improvement District for Belfast city centre. Directly comparable as a UK BID providing services to levy-paying businesses including security, marketing, environmental improvements, and events.
• Liverpool BID Company: Business Improvement District covering Liverpool city centre. Directly comparable as a UK BID delivering security, cleansing, marketing, and events programmes funded by levy on city centre businesses.
• Manchester BID: Manchester city centre Business Improvement District. Direct peer as a UK BID delivering town centre management, security partnerships, and marketing services to levy-paying city centre businesses.
• Baker Street Quarter Partnership: BID covering the Baker Street area of London. Direct peer as a UK BID running town centre management, security, and marketing services funded by business levy on a defined urban area.
• Heart of London Business Alliance: London BID covering the area around Leicester Square and Piccadilly. Direct peer as another UK Business Improvement District funded by mandatory levy on local businesses, providing security, street environment, and marketing services.
• Hammersmith BID: London Hammersmith Business Improvement District. Direct peer operating the same UK BID model — mandatory levy, ballot-based renewal, and town centre management services to local businesses.

Broad incumbents

• UKBAA (UK BID Advisory Association): Industry body for UK Business Improvement Districts. Comparable as a sector-wide incumbent that provides governance, ballot administration, and best practice guidance to BIDs including HWBIDCo.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hellomywycombe
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBxDigKW0amw_X-pCEws2AA
• Facebookfacebook.com/hellomywycombe
• Instagraminstagram.com/hellomywycombe
• TikToktiktok.com/@mywycombe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/high-wycombe-bid-company

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 High Wycombe BID Company