For a decade, the Sheffield Business Improvement District (BID) has brought businesses, communities, and partners together to shape a safer, cleaner, and more vibrant city centre. From enhanced street cleaning and safety initiatives to high-profile events like The Fringe at Tramlines and Lunar Chinese New Year, we’ve delivered meaningful change through collaboration and targeted investment.
As we approach our third term (2026–2031), we propose to expand the BID area to better reflect the full footprint of the city centre and the businesses that contribute to its vibrancy. This is about ensuring that more businesses play a role in shaping - and benefiting from - the collective investment in the city centre’s future - ensuring every part of it receives the attention it deserves.
With your support, we’ll extend our impact through strategic marketing, major events, and partnerships that drive growth and opportunity - right across the BID area.
Our focus for the next five years is simple: to deliver work that feels relevant, responsive, and genuinely useful. Whether it’s improving the day-to-day experience of the city centre, helping businesses adapt to shifting customer habits, or making the area more attractive for staff and visitors, our aim is to make the BID feel like a partnership worth being part of.
Engagement
Earlier this year Sheffield BID provided consultation documents to all businesses within the proposed BID area. The documents outlined the proposed priorities, encouraged feedback, and offered the opportunity for in-person meetings. This ensured all eligible businesses were given a meaningful opportunity to engage.
Draft delivery framework
Over the next five years, we propose that our work will focus on three pillars delivering measurable, innovative solutions to shape the city centre’s future:
Environment: A clean, safe and welcoming environment as the foundation of economic confidence.
Experience: Amplifying city centre vibrancy through events, marketing, and a dynamic day and night-time economy.
Voice: Forging partnerships to advance the trading and commercial environment and elevate Sheffield's profile.
A draft of the proposed initiatives and projects can be viewed below.
BID area
A map of the proposed boundary area:
Finance
The proposed levy rate will be 1.75% of rateable value (1.05% for business rate payers in receipt of charitable relief). It will be based on the 2023 rateable value of premises of £40,000 or above. This is expected to raise c £6.3m over the five-year term.
Draft timeline
A detailed prospectus will be sent you by Sheffield BID w/c 25 August.
Sheffield City Council will send you the Notice of Ballot by 2 September.
Sheffield City Council will send you a ballot paper for each rateable hereditament - for which you are liable - by 18 September.
It is a 28-day postal ballot:
Ballot opens: 9am, 19 September 2025
Ballot closes: 5pm, 16 October 2025
Result declared: 17 October 2025 (Sheffield City Council website)
Make sure we have your voter contact details
If you haven't already confirmed to us, please let us know your named voter contact details by emailing enquiries@sheffieldbid.com. Note that the ballot is a postal ballot and all legal documentation will be posted.
If you would like to discuss the plans further, please email diane.jarvis@sheffieldbid.com.
For more information about BIDs please visit the government website here:
- The Business Improvement Districts (England) Regulations 2004 – This is the statutory instrument that sets out the legal framework for how BIDs are established and operated:
👉 Read the full legislation here - GOV.UK Guidance on Business Improvement Districts – This provides a more accessible overview of how BIDs work, who pays the levy, and how they are managed:
👉 View the guidance here
