Our Ambition

Our Ambition

We are the Eastern City BID, the Business Improvement District working to promote and enhance a unique part of the City of London, known as the Eastern City.

In February 2022, the Eastern City business community voted to establish a formal Business Improvement District (BID) in the area, after the success of its predecessor – the EC Partnership.

Business Partnerships and Business Improvement Districts give a voice to business communities – championing local priorities and ensuring the right people are at the decision table. Businesses understand that together they can be stronger; lobbying on big, strategic issues that impact on their commercial performance and ability to grow. This is not a case of the private sector plugging public sector funding gaps, but genuine collaboration and collective action.

A BID operates in 5-year terms. Through mandatory business levies and voluntary contributions, the BID will raise over £20 million during its first term, which will fund a range of strategic and operational projects anchored by the ESG agenda.

The BID’s programme will focus on:

 

A Sustainable District

Our commitment to supporting the City of London Corporation’s strategy for achieving net zero by 2040. This covers everything from major public realm enhancements that seek to reduce vehicle congestion, improve air quality and increase the quantum of green space, to exploring area-wide renewable energy networks, lobbying for continued investment in our public transport system and providing businesses with the tools and knowledge they need to initiate their own positive change.

An Evolving District

Working patterns across the City have undoubtedly changed and in order for the commercial ecosystem to thrive we need to reach new audiences and diversify what this part of the capital has to offer. Working with key stakeholders we’ll be delivering a significant programme of cultural events and installations to enliven our public spaces and empty properties.

Our Community

Enhancing the experience of the Eastern City for our businesses, their staff and customers. This involves promoting our diverse retail, leisure and hospitality occupiers, providing additional street cleaning, supporting local charities/community initiatives, organising wellbeing events for staff and delivering a variety of projects around safety, crime reduction and resilience.

Promoting the Eastern City

This part of the Square Mile is home to over 80,000 jobs with economic output in excess of £11 billion per year – it’s recognised globally as a commercial powerhouse. To bolster this reputation, the BID works to position the area as a global pioneer, setting the blueprint for what’s needed in a world-leading central business district.

What is a BID?

BIDs are established via a ballot of eligible businesses and if successful a small levy is charged and the money raised is then invested into local projects and programmes developed through collaboration with the business community. There are now more than 60 BIDs across London, and are five in the City: the Cheapside Business Alliance, Aldgate Connect BID, Fleet Street Quarter and Culture Mile BID.

The Eastern City BID is one of the biggest BIDs in the UK, able to have a transformational impact in the area and be a powerful force for good in the Square Mile.

OUR BOARD

Nick Carty, Chair, AIG
Peter Woods, Vice Chair, DAIWA Capital Markets Europe Limited
Paul Sewell, Metro Bank PLC
Peter Alford, St James Place
David Cooper, Wells Fargo
Carolyne King, Amtrust Management Services
Fiona Beale, Aviva
Dominic Christian, AON Insurance
Florine Le Guilloux, Axa
Jo Scott, Aspen Insurance
Mark Higgs, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
Dan Scanlon, Brookfield Properties
Stewart Dawson, Vattenfall
Ruth Duston, Primera Corporation
Ruby Raw (Observer), City of London Corporation
Judith Pleasance CC (Observer), City of London Corporation

Publications

22/23 Annual Report

Find out more about our approach and performance in 2022 – 2023 in our annual report

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23/24 Billing Leaflet

Our billing leaflet outlines our delivery plan and budgets for the year

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24/25 Delivery Plan

Read more about how we intend to deliver our services and strategy in 2024 – 2025

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23/24 Annual Report

Find out more about our approach and performance in 2023 – 2024 in our annual report

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Public Realm Vision

Read our new Public Realm Vision for the Eastern City

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Freight, Servicing and Deliveries (FSD) Consolidation Mapping

Find out more about the Eastern City BIDs Freight, Servicing and Deliveries Consolidation Mapping by Polaris

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Business Plan 2022-2027

Read our Business Plan 2022-2027 and find out more about the Eastern City BID’s work over the 5-year term.

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