Sheffield BID has announced the return of its BID Buddies team, bringing a friendly, visible and proactive presence back to Sheffield city centre seven days a week.
Working from Sheffield BID’s Visitor Welcome Hub on Surrey Street and across key city centre locations, BID Buddies will serve as the BID’s welcome team, helping people, businesses and organisations make the most of everything the city centre has to offer.
Providing a welcoming face and expert local knowledge, the team will offer practical assistance, information and concierge-style support while helping people discover businesses, events and services across the city centre.
Funded by city centre businesses through the BID levy, the service is designed to support businesses, their customers and the wider city centre experience.
BID Buddies will:
Diane Jarvis, Chief Executive of Sheffield BID, said:
“BID Buddies are Sheffield BID’s city centre welcome team. Their role is to provide a friendly face, local knowledge and practical support for anyone spending time in the city centre.
“Whether someone is visiting for the day, attending an event, exploring the city’s cultural offer, shopping, dining out or simply looking for directions, BID Buddies will be there to help.
"We know that a great welcome can make a real difference to how people experience the city centre. By helping people discover new businesses, find their way around and make informed choices about where to spend their time, BID Buddies will also support the businesses that fund Sheffield BID and contribute to a stronger city centre economy."
"We're delighted to see BID Buddies back on the streets, providing practical support, local knowledge and a visible presence that benefits both city centre businesses and the people who use Sheffield every day."
The return of BID Buddies marks the next phase in the development of Sheffield BID's Visitor Welcome programme, delivered through the Experience Sheffield proposition.
The team will work closely with businesses, venues, transport operators and partners, helping people access information, discover new opportunities and enjoy a positive experience in the city centre.
Together with Sheffield BID’s Visitor Welcome Hub and sheffieldcitycentre.com, the service will provide a connected welcome offer both on the street and online.
Sheffield BID's Visitor Welcome Hub has supported people using the city centre for several years and has been home to the successful Mobile Sheffield disability scooter and wheelchair hire scheme since 2021. The return of BID Buddies builds on that foundation, with additional concierge-style services planned to further enhance the support available.
The final element of the programme will launch in March 2027 with the introduction of a dedicated mobile welcome vehicle. Extending the reach of the Visitor Welcome Hub, the vehicle will support events, festivals, major arrival points and other busy city centre locations, ensuring help, information and concierge-style support are available where and when people need them most.
