ABOUT US
Harrow BID’s third five-year term began on 1st April 2024 after a successful ballot of local businesses. The purpose of the BID is to invest in the future of the town centre and to champion the interests of its businesses by giving them a stronger, collective voice.
The Harrow Town Centre BID is a Business Improvement District; a business led organisation set up to improve the commercial wellbeing of Harrow Town Centre. The BID provides an effective organisational model which brings together the business community with the statutory authorities and wider community, to work together for the benefit of Harrow Town Centre.
The Harrow Town Centre BID is a company limited by guarantee (not for profit).
The Harrow BID works closely with community groups, residents and the local authority to deliver on the key themes that were identified by our members and set out in our business plan. Our priorities are ensuring the maintenance of a quality trading environment; helping to sustain progress, development and investment; promoting and managing change and securing a timely response to market changes.
BID Manager
The delivery of the BID’s business plan is led by the BID Manager Louise Baxter and her team, who are accountable to the Chair and Board. She works closely with the Board and sub-group members, partners and specialist service providers to ensure the effective implementation of the agreed annual action plan. Louise helped develop the BID after moving on from roles at Groundwork UK and the Employment Team at Harrow Council. She is a strong networker who is responsible for establishing and maintaining working relationships with anyone who is likely to influence the experience you get when you visit the town centre.
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Matthew has been working in BIDs for nearly 20 years and specialises in operational matters, crime prevention, place management and greening improvements. Previously he has worked for Hammersmith and Milton Keynes BIDs and has a history of delivering place management improvements as well as leading on delivering BID ballots and business continuity and resilience. His main focus is delivering the HBAC Crime Partnership, ensuring businesses in the Town Centre feel safe and secure, including what they should do in the event of a major incident.
STREET AMBASSADOR
Neil joined the BID in 2022 after working with Harrow Council as an Enforcement officer for over 17 years. His role is to patrol the Harrow BID area interacting with those working, living and visiting the area, identifying issues that affect the overall appearance and wellbeing. Build relationships/liaise with local businesses assisting their operation on a day to day basis. Provide a welcoming face to the district for workers and visitors, assisting with local knowledge when required and work with partner agencies such as Harrow Council and the Metropolitan police to combat ASB and criminality via our HBAC programme.
OFFICE MANAGER
Laura joined the BID in 2016 after many years working as a PA in a central London estate agency. She manages the day to day running of the office, organises meetings, updates the websites and social media platforms, types and updates documents and liaises with the council regarding BID levy invoices that have been sent out.
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE
The Board of Directors leads and guides the work of the BID. The Board has a balance of skills, experience, independence and knowledge to enable them to discharge their respective duties and responsibilities effectively. It aims to be diverse with a representative mix of its membership, the property sector and wider community.
The Board meets quarterly and drives the set aims and objectives of the BID, as well as maintaining good governance, overseeing the budget and monitoring performance.
Observers can be appointed to the Board subject to ratification by BID members at annual meetings of the company. Key groups may include the public authorities, the Police and the residential community.
The BID seeks to embrace its members and the wider community within a programme of work which meet its stated aims and objectives. To help guide the BID in this pursuit Board sub-groups may be set up to encourage participation and help to add value to the decision making of the BID. Areas of focus include Finance & Governance.
Minutes of the Harrow BID Management Board can be requested at info@ha1bid.co.uk
Harrow BID Board Members
- David Robinson (Chair)
St Anns Shopping Centre
- Stephen Spence (Vice Chair)
The Junction
- Geoff Rimmer
St George’s Shopping Centre
- Vimal Patel
Boots Opticians
- Thomas Russell
McDonald’s
- Reema Mavani
McDonald’s
- James Kinsella
Vue - Chris Perdue
Trinity Bar
- Cathy Knubley
(Harrow Council Observer) - Norman Stevenson
(Harrow Council Observer)
OPERATING AGREEMENT
An Operating Agreement exists between the BID and the local authority which outlines how the BID levy monies are collected, administered and passed over to the BID.
BASELINE AGREEMENT
A Baseline Agreement exists between the BID and the local authority which specifies the level of Council led service provision in the area, ensuring that any services the BID provides are additional.
SUBGROUPS
Four main executive sub-groups, composed of BID members and relevant members of the staff team, focus on specific aspects of the BID’s work and help the Board to make informed decisions on the direction of our work programmes.
The four groups are Finance and Governance; Marketing; Operations; and Harrow Business Against Crime. The frequency of their meetings is agreed by each group, some once a quarter while others meet every other month. If you are interested in joining one of the groups, or attending one of their meetings, please contact us on 020 8863 9933 or info@ha1bid.co.uk.
BID MEMBERS
The membership comprises BID levy payers and voluntary members.
Business occupiers liable to pay the Business Improvement District levy are admitted to membership in accordance with the BID Company’s Articles of Association.
Other businesses can be admitted as members, subject to BID Board approval, normally by making a financial (or in-kind) contribution or being of strategic importance to the delivery of the BID’s business objectives. Key groups include property owners and the Council. We encourage property owners as members, in order to promote a medium to longer term strategic focus for the BID’s work, complementary to our day-to-day, more tactically focused, activity.
The Harrow BID represents over 180 local businesses.
LONDON BOROUGH OF HARROW
London Borough of Harrow is the billing authority in respect of the BID area.
