Swansea Business Improvement District

What Swansea Business Improvement District does

Swansea Business Improvement District (Swansea BID) is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, established in 2006 as the first BID in Wales and one of the first in the UK. It represents approximately 800 businesses across Swansea city centre through a mandatory levy of 1% of rateable value (0.90% for qualifying large shopping centres), collected by the City & County of Swansea on its behalf. The organisation was incorporated as Swansea Business Improvements Ltd (company number 5893941) and operates under the Business Improvement Districts (Wales) Regulations 2005, with its mandate renewed through successful ballots in 2011, 2016, 2021, and most recently 2026 (fifth term, 2026-2031), making it the first BID in Wales to achieve five consecutive terms.

Its core offering spans three service themes: Welcoming & Enhancing (Street Cleansing Team delivering 6,200 additional cleansing hours annually and removing over 100,000 pieces of chewing gum; City Centre Rangers; graffiti removal); Promoting & Supporting (the Big Heart Hub consumer platform, the Big Heart of Swansea brand, the Swansea Gift Card powered by Miconex, the BID Member Benefits Programme, the 2GoCup reusable cup scheme, and the Neighbourly community engagement platform); and Representing & Influencing (the Swansea Against Business Crime Partnership covering 242 businesses, the SentrySIS cloud-based crime reporting platform, and the StoreNet/NiteNet radio network connecting 152+ businesses). The Swansea BID Skills School provides free Highfield-accredited training courses including fire safety, food safety, personal licence, first aid, and mental health first aid, with 352 training spaces facilitated in 2025.

The organisation is governed by a board of voluntary directors representing the levy-paying membership, with leadership comprising Andrew Douglas as BID Manager (appointed September 2025 following the departure of Russell Greenslade after 16 years), Jacob Perry as Business Engagement and Communications Officer, and Steve Gallagher as Business Crime Reduction Manager. Service delivery is supported by a network of partnerships including South Wales Police, City & County of Swansea, British Transport Police, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Gower College Swansea, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, and the Federation of Small Businesses. The BID is British BIDs Accredited, BID Foundation Industry Standards compliant, and holds NABCRP National Standards Accreditation for its crime reduction partnership.

Name

Swansea Business Improvement District

Legal name

Swansea Business Improvements District Ltd

Website

https://swanseabid.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Swansea BID is a not-for-profit Business Improvement District representing approximately 800 businesses across Swansea city centre, funded by a mandatory 1% levy on rateable value and delivering crime reduction, street cleansing, training, marketing, and business support services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Swansea

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. BID Levy: The primary revenue stream is the mandatory BID levy charged at 1% of the rateable value of each hereditament with a rateable value of £5,000 or more (using the 2017 Rating List). For Quadrant Shopping Centre and subsequent new shopping centre developments (minimum 5,000 sqm GLA), a 0.90% levy charge applies. The levy is collected by The City & County of Swansea Business Rates department. The BID term runs 5 years from 1st August 2021 to 31st July 2026, with the new term starting 2026-2031.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Swansea BID is a not-for-profit business-led organisation that provides place management, business support, crime reduction, street cleansing, training, and city centre marketing services to approximately 800 levy-paying businesses in the Swansea city centre BID area. Services are funded through a mandatory BID levy (1% of rateable value) and are delivered free at the point of use by an in-house team, City Centre Rangers, and a Street Cleansing Team, coordinated through the BID office at 11 Wind Street, Swansea.

Product overview

Swansea BID operates as a Business Improvement District organisation delivering a portfolio of interconnected services to approximately 800 businesses in Swansea city centre. The core offering spans three strategic themes: Welcoming & Enhancing (Street Cleansing Team, City Centre Rangers, crime prevention), Promoting & Supporting (The Big Heart Hub visitor platform, Swansea Gift Card, BID Member Benefits Programme, 2GoCup sustainability scheme, events support), and Representing & Influencing (Swansea Against Business Crime Partnership/SABC, SentrySIS crime reporting platform, StoreNet/NiteNet Radio Network). The Swansea BID Skills School provides free training courses to levy payers. The organisation does not sell a standalone software product but rather delivers services and platforms — including the SentrySIS-integrated SABC crime prevention network, the Big Heart Hub consumer-facing platform, the Neighbourly community engagement platform, and various discount and advertising partner programmes — all coordinated through a central office team and governed by a board of directors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Swansea Against Business Crime Partnership (SABC) Business crime reduction partnership connecting city centre businesses with South Wales Police, British Transport Police, Swansea Council, and the Fire Service for real-time crime intelligence sharing, incident reporting, and coordinated response to retail crime and anti-social behaviour.
• SentrySIS Crime Reporting Platform Cloud-based crime reporting and intelligence-sharing platform enabling city centre businesses to report incidents, create perpetrator profiles, and view crime maps of hotspots and trends.
• Big Heart Hub Web-based visitor and business engagement application providing a business directory, exclusive offers, dining guide, city resources, events calendar, and a Billy Chip scheme locator for visitors and BID businesses.
• Swansea BID Skills School (Training and Workshops) Programme of free training courses, workshops, and drop-in sessions exclusively for BID area businesses, covering fire safety, food safety, personal licence training, emergency first aid, mental health first aid, and StoreNet/NiteNet radio help sessions.
• Street Cleansing Team Rapid response cleansing team providing additional cleaning services above council baseline, including pavement deep cleaning, doorway washing, chewing gum removal, graffiti tag removal, and environmental enhancement for levy-paying businesses.
• Swansea Gift Card Local gift card programme powered by Town & City Gift Card from fintech Miconex, enabling residents and visitors to purchase gift cards redeemable at participating BID area businesses including national brands and independents.
• City Centre Rangers Team of City Centre Rangers and Senior Rangers funded by Swansea BID in partnership with the local authority, providing safety presence, community support, and liaison between businesses and emergency services.
• StoreNet/NiteNet Radio Network City centre security radio network, operated with M.R.S. Communications Ltd, connecting over 150 businesses for real-time intracity communication and collaboration with authorities; available to BID levy payers at weekly rental with troubleshooting and training support.
• 2GoCup Reusable Cup Scheme Sustainability initiative (jointly funded by Swansea BID and Swansea Council) providing durable, BPA-free reusable cups to participating city centre and university businesses, reducing single-use waste through a deposit-and-return scheme.
• Neighbourly Business-Community Platform Platform connecting BID area businesses with local charities and community causes, enabling volunteering time, service donations, and resource sharing.
• Mental Health First Aid Training Highfield Level 2 Award in Introduction to First Aid for Mental Health qualification, delivered as a two-day course enabling learners to provide basic mental health support and first response in the workplace.
• BID Member Business Benefits Programme Suite of discounted and free services available to BID levy payers, including parking permits, radio advertising, digital signage, printing discounts, cleaning supplies, fire and security health checks, commercial cleaning, IT advice, payment terminal rental, waste management, legal services, and staff wellbeing support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 46 business openings vs 17 closures in 2025 (27% increase in new openings vs 2024)
• +10 more outcomes

Named customers31 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered secondary, core and minor.

• 2GoCupsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Irish start-up providing reusable cup scheme for Swansea city centre. Swansea BID partnered with Swansea Council to launch the scheme reducing single-use waste. Cups are BPA-free, designed for multiple uses, and fully recyclable. 2GoCup has been expanding across UK and Ireland since 2018.
• SentrySIScoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Swansea BID introduced SentrySIS cloud-based crime reporting platform to Swansea in 2022. The software connects local businesses, national retailers, South Wales Police, and Swansea BID for real-time crime intelligence sharing. Platform usage increased 28% in 2025.
• South Wales PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwansea BID works in partnership with South Wales Police on business crime reduction through the SABC partnership. This includes sharing intelligence via SentrySIS platform, coordinated operations (including successful graffiti vandalism prosecution), and co-funding initiatives like the Police Engagement Space at the Quadrant Shopping Centre.
• City & County of SwanseacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the local authority includes baseline agreements governing service provision, Operating Agreement for BID levy collection and administration, Street Cleansing Team delivery, joint initiatives like 2GoCup sustainability scheme, and parking permits for BID workers.
• Swansea Against Business Crime (SABC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwansea BID funds and hosts the SABC partnership which has 242 businesses. The partnership works with South Wales Police, Local Authority, British Transport Police and is independently chaired by a former Chief Superintendent. SABC achieved NABCRP National Standards Accreditation for third consecutive year.
• M.R.S. Communications LtdcoreTechnology or IntegrationMRS Communications supplies and supports the StoreNet/NiteNet security radio network for BID businesses. Weekly rental at £4.43 for levy payers with 15% discount on event radios. Over 150 businesses connected. Sarah from MRS Communications provides training and troubleshooting sessions at BID office.
• Gower College SwanseacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for delivering training and apprenticeship opportunities. Gower College Swansea co-hosts training sessions and participates in apprenticeship fairs promoted through BID channels.
• British Transport PolicesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through SABC for coordinated crime prevention efforts affecting retail and transport areas.
• South Wales Fire and Rescue ServicesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through SABC contributing to business safety initiatives and fire safety training.
• Swansea Hospitality ForumsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry body partnership representing hospitality businesses within the BID area.
• RCS WalessecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCS Wales provides free employee wellbeing support funded by Welsh Government. Services include counselling and physiotherapy (up to 6 free sessions per employee), free wellbeing surveys, and online wellbeing training for BID member businesses.
• NeighbourlysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity platform connecting local businesses with charities and community causes. Enables businesses to offer volunteering time, services, and resources to local projects promoting social responsibility.
• Swansea Community FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal cause registered on Neighbourly platform, located in Fforestfach. Community-led charity improving wellbeing, building skills, and creating belonging through caring for animals and community farmland.
• Highfield QualificationssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarding organisation for BID training courses including Fire Safety, Personal License, Food Safety, Emergency First Aid, and Mental Health First Aid. Highfield-accredited qualifications assessed by multiple-choice examination.
• MiconexsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFintech company behind the award-winning Town & City Gift Card concept. Swansea Gift Card launched with national brands and independents including SuperDry, HMV, Ernest Jones and 90+ other brands.
• Swansea Bay RadiosecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive radio advertising partnership offering BID members access to local radio advertising through varied package campaigns including standard airtime and live-links for openings/launches.
• Leapfrog AdvertisingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDigital signage advertising partner offering 15% discount for BID members to advertise in The Quadrant Shopping Centre and Parc Tawe Retail Park.
• Federation of Small BusinessesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with FSB for training and business support services. Listed as a partner organisation on training and workshop programmes.
• Gower EatsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal food delivery supplier offering BID members reduced 10% commission rate for first three months (standard 15% thereafter) with no set-up or onboarding fees. BID worked to align driver policies with responsible delivery operations objectives.
• University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning Creative Bubble scheme brings BID levy payers closer to student talent. Project scaled up as part of ongoing collaboration.
• Centurion (Quadrant Shopping Centre)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwners of the Quadrant Shopping Centre, Centurion co-funded the Police Engagement Space pop-up with BID and South Wales Police. Quadrant Shopping Centre receives 0.90% BID levy rate (vs 1% standard).
• Safer SwanseacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Safer Swansea team supporting improved crime outcomes and coordinated cleanliness initiatives.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cardiff BID:

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SwanseaBID
• Facebookfacebook.com/SwanseaBID
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swansea-business-improvement-district
• Instagraminstagram.com/swanseabid

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Swansea Business Improvement District