How long does a BID last for?
The standard BID term is 5 years. After this, the BID is required to seek a new mandate from the businesses by way of a renewal ballot to be able to continue in operation. The success of BIDs when they have gone through the renewal stage demonstrates the difference that they can make. Nairn BID went through its first renewal in August 2023, and is now in its second term.
Are Nairn BID part of Highland Council?
No, Nairn BID are not part of Highland Council.
We do work with Highland Council on delivering projects and requesting funding but Nairn BID is a completely separate entity. Nairn BID actually provides many services that Highland Council no longer provide, such as Christmas Lights, Floral Displays and Signage.
Nairn BID is set up as a private company, limited by guarantee, and is run by a board of voluntary directors, most of whom are members of the organisation and levy payers. The company is listed on Companies House (SC 606595) and annual reports and accounts are available elsewhere on this website.
How will I know how my levy payment has been spent?
Transparency is key to the BID and its success.
Throughout the lifetime of the BID, all work on BID projects will be monitored to ensure they achieve a high level of impact and are progressing to the satisfaction of the businesses that voted for the BID.
Reports and Accounts are published on this site to keep members up to date with what is being done and spent. The BID Board of Directors monitor and oversee the efficient delivery of BID projects.
What can a BID do?
The BID aims to have an impact on the whole town, not just one area. Working with local businesses and the community, the principal aim of the BID is to restore & maintain Nairn’s reputation as a desirable place to visit and shop and make it a more attractive place to do business.
The top 10 benefits of the BID are:
1. To build Nairn’s reputation as a desirable place to visit and shop, a vibrant town with wonderful beaches, seafront and environment.
2. Support and help develop a year-round program of great events that generate an increase in footfall to the town.
3. To market the town to a local, regional, national and international audience.
4. To improve the economic opportunities for the businesses in town and surrounding area.
5. To increase tourist spend and extend the tourist season.
6. To provide visitors with an infrastructure of great signage, orientation and better understanding of what the area has to offer.
7. To work with and support individual sectors.
8. To improve business relationships with each other, the local authority and the community.
9. To give businesses a strong, unified voice.
10. To support local voluntary groups, giving opportunities for publicity and fundraising.
How is the BID levy linked to business rates?
The levy payments are not linked to what businesses actually pay in rates, but are based on the rateable value of the property. ‘Eligible persons’ refers to those liable to pay non-domestic rates. The levy rate is a fee structure based on the rateable value of the property on the day of the ballot in August 2023. The BID levy will be paid by the occupier (the eligible persons liable to pay the non-domestic rate). However, the property owner will be liable to pay the levy where a property is vacant.
The levy is entirely separate to business rates and can only be drawn down by the Board of Directors of the BID Company and used for the delivery of the projects and services detailed in the business plan, which has been approved by a ballot of the eligible persons. The levy is not a new source of funding for a local authority.
Most small businesses are eligible for the Small Business Bonus scheme but do still have to pay the BID levy.
How did the voting process work?
On 6th July 2018, a ballot paper, with a copy of the BID Business Plan, was sent to each eligible person, enabling them to cast their vote through a confidential postal ballot. Highland Council contracted the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) to undertake the ballot. The result was declared on 17th August 2018.
The electorate consisted of: 281 businesses
The total votes cast were: 130
The turnout was: 51.18 %
The turnout by Rateable Value was: 59.41 %
The number of votes in favour of the BID was 107
The votes against were 23
Therefore the BID was established.
In the renewal ballot of 2023 the results were as follows:
The electorate consisted of: 305 businesses
The total votes cast were: 181
The turnout was: 59.53 %
The turnout by Rateable Value was: 60.77 %
The number of votes in favour of the BID was 92
The votes against were 89
The aggregate rateable value in favour of the BID was £2,479,700
The aggregate RV against was: £753,100
Therefore the ballot was declared successful and the BID was renewed for a further 5 years
Why does my BID levy bill look like a council tax bill?
BID invoices look like Council Tax invoices only because we pay the Council to collect the levy on our behalf and they use their internal billing system to do this.
This is the easiest and most efficient way to collect and trace the BID levy, and means that the staff of the BID are not directly involved in debt collection.
Who is responsible for the Christmas Lights in Nairn?
One of Nairn BID’s services to the town is to organise for the Christmas Lights and trees to be erected and taken down again every year. This is because the Highland Council made it clear several years ago that they would not pay for this to happen. They do, however, store, test, erect and dismount the lights and trees for us, for a fee. Therefore, if there is a problem with the lights, the BID staff will take it up with the council.
Nairn BID usually organises for an event to take place to celebrate the turning on of the Christmas lights on the last Saturday of November every year. This usually involves closing the High Street to traffic and holding a street market as well as organising an entertainment space for local groups to perform. Typically, a child is chosen to help Santa switch on the lights and the Nairn Pipe Band play to bring in the Christmas season. This event is enormously popular with locals and visitors from all around the area and significantly increases footfall. For further details about the event, please watch our news pages and social media as well as the VisitNairn site.
How can a BID ensure that Nairn works well with The Highland Council and HIE etc
Nairn BID seeks to give businesses a strong, unified voice and to work with, and support individual sectors.
Additionally, the BID will seek to improve business relationships with each other, the local authority and the community. Working together, we can make changes, to improve the town for all.
The Board and staff of Nairn BID have regular meetings with the local authorities to move forward on issues which affect all businesses.
Are board members paid by Nairn BID?
No, Board members are all volunteers who have their own businesses in Nairn.
They volunteer their free time to come to meetings and be involved with what the BID is doing and give input on projects we are working on, and regular events, aiming to achieve the goals set out in the Business Plan.
Do the owners of the empty units pay the levy?
Yes, the payment of the levy is not related to whether you pay business rates or not.
The legal responsibility for the payment of the levy is based on whether you are liable to pay business rates. A BID aims to support owners to fill their vacant units by giving potential businesses more reason to start up in the town, raising footfall and supporting entrepreneurship.
If you have an empty unit and need help, or know of an empty unit which you would like to use for your business, then please get in touch with the BID team who may be able to help.
