Our story
Canterbury Business Improvement District (BID) supports over 600 businesses across the city centre, supporting net-zero targets, growing sustainability knowledge, and building a climate action strategy.
A BID is a not-for-profit, business-led, and business-funded partnership that provides funds and services to businesses in a clearly defined group or geographical area – generally a town or a city. They carry out projects and improvements in addition to those carried out by local authorities, funded by the businesses that benefit from them. Canterbury BID partners with local authorities, community, and resident groups, including Canterbury Climate Action Partnership, to invest in local businesses, build our community, and empower us all to go greener together
We believe that PlaceMakers have a huge role to play on the road to net-zero. A PlaceMaker is someone involved in the design, funding, and planning of urban areas. The built environment contributes 40% of the UK's total carbon output, so it's crucial to make positive changes in our towns and cities. Canterbury BID is made up of some talented PlaceMakers who work with local businesses to have a significant impact on our environment.
We are involved in a wide range of initiatives to support Canterbury businesses as they go greener, including plastic-free accreditation and projects focused on measuring and reducing emissions related to trade waste and transport. However, it's vital that we really listen to the local businesses we support and introduce changes that make sustainability easier and more practical; for example, introducing recycling bins across the city centre.
Canterbury BID acts as an important link between businesses and local authorities and policymakers. We provide an important voice for Canterbury's business community – letting policymakers know what they need, including what type of funding should be available. We also hold regular events to make sure businesses understand what resources are available to them and to improve carbon literacy across the city.
Our advice
Don't try and do everything yourself. Reach out to experts to understand how you can start your net-zero journey.
Be a forum and catalyst for effective communication between businesses, local authorities and policymakers in your city.
Our Changeprint
Our Changeprint can be measured by estimated carbon reductions achieved through BID-supported initiatives; number (and %) of the 600+ members actively engaged in BID sustainability initiatives; number of businesses or individuals completing workshops, events, or training sessions on net zero; number of businesses achieving plastic-free accreditation, adopting recycling schemes, or reducing emissions due to trade waste and transport; number of collaborative projects, policy contributions, or partnerships established with local authorities and community groups.
