Wiltshire Business
A new buzz inSwindon
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| Focus on Mark Ross, the chief executive of the town's BID |
Until the spring of 2007, Swindon Borough Council managed Swindon's town centre. But then 460 businesses within the central square mile recognised the benefits and voted in favour of the creation of a Business Improvement District.
The BID is a private, non-profitmaking company, with its own board of directors.
The ballot secured investment from the private sector - ring-fencing it to be spent on special projects benefiting the town centre, shoppers from across the region, and all its investors.
The brand name inSwindon' and a new organisational identity were developed, and while staff work closely with the Council, the inSwindon BID company is autonomous.
inSwindon's chief executive, Mark Ross, spent 10 years in town centre management, headed up two BID projects and ran a successful BID company in Oldham, so he is well-equipped for the role.
He has seen several towns in the north of England go through the same radical regeneration that is facing Swindon. Born in the north-west, Mark hails from a town just outside Manchester.
He said: "I come from a part of the country where people's down-to-earth attitudes and the economy are similar to hard-working Swindon.
"I'm excited to see the town beginning to recognise it has a lot to offer, and I want to help Swindon become even more proud of its own identity.
"Even though I'm not from this area, I have an admiration for any town that has survived the closure of major industries such as the Railway Works, and that has re-invented itself as successfully as Swindon has.
"I do get tired of Swindon being the butt of jokes. I believe Swindon has real potential and is already a great place to live, work and play."
Mark manages various town centre activities, and because of the way the BID is structured, more budget was available for the annual Christmas lights switch-on event.
inSwindon helped produce a more active Christmas retail campaign, which had a positive impact on trading figures in the last quarter of 2007. Retail sales bucked the national trend, despite the recent credit squeeze.
"Other projects underway include a street-team of ambassadors who regularly patrol the town centre.
"Over the last seven months, we made an impression by greatly reducing the number of street beggars and drinkers in the town centre. Finally, we will oversee the development of the retail crime partnership which is reducing pilfering."
Future plans include public
events in the regenerated Wharf Green area. Events stimulate the senses and follow inSwindon's stated mission to involve, inspire and innovate through activities for shoppers, local businesses and their customers.
inSwindon continues to represent retail business interests with organisations such as Swindon Borough Council.
For details of town centre events, call 01793 464924 or see www.inswindon.com
10:24am Wednesday 5th March 2008
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