Businesses take starring role to tell the story of HullBID

Jim Harris of St Stephen's.

CITY centre businesses are taking a starring role in a new film which takes viewers behind the scenes to witness a year in the life of HullBID.

The cast of the production ranges from the licensee of a popular Old Town pub and the founder of a travel business to the security team at St Stephen’s Shopping Centre and the manager of the Tesco St Stephen’s store.

They are joined by Alan Johnson MP, City of Culture Chair Rosie Millard and Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Grove in highlighting the benefits of HullBID.

The film, which can be viewed on the HullBID website and is also being distributed on social media, showcases the work of the organisation on safety and security and cleaning and maintenance in the city centre.

It also features the big events which BID organises including Hull Fashion Week, the Yum! Festival of Food and Drink and Hull Trinity Festival, which last year starred The Beat and Eliza and the Bear.

The video also shows some of the business networking events and demonstrates the value of the partnerships which BID has developed with organisations including Hull City Council and Humberside Police.

Dennis Wann, licensee of the Sailmaker’s Arms, said of the Edwardian Easter event: “It improves the exposure of the area. It shows Hull in the light it should be shown in.”

Rosie Millard, Chair of City of Culture, said their programme is not being planned against the backdrop of a desert: “There is already a wonderful array of festivals and very important cultural events supported by HullBID.”

Marion Owen of Marion Owen Travel highlighted the cleaning services which include removing graffiti and disposing of discarded needles. Terry McKay, security supervisor at St Stephen’s, said the HullBID radio system is a vital tool in protecting businesses against crime.

Nick Carolan, manager of Tesco’s in St Stephen’s, said: “We are happy to be the biggest private levy payer because it makes a big difference to us and it helps us to be part of the local community and the local retail environment.”

Matthew Grove, the Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “The fight against crime can only be won by a big team and what HullBID does is help to manage that team.”

Alan Johnson, whose Hull West and Hessle constituency includes the city centre, said: “You need to be in partnership to make the city centre more vibrant and BID was the answer. It’s proven its worth and we need to keep it.”

Jim Harris, centre manager of St Stephen’s and chair of the HullBID Board of Directors, said the film is designed to underline the importance of the organisation’s work as it approaches a renewal ballot which opens later this month.

He said: “A lot of business people in the city centre have seen the film and even some of those we know very well have admitted they have learned a lot by seeing the essential security and cleaning services which are carried out by HullBID and the free events and activities which help to increase footfall in the city centre.

“We shouldn’t really be surprised by that because while BID operates with a very small team it covers a great deal of ground. What the response of the viewers shows is that a lot of the work is perhaps taken for granted.

“Our challenge to the business people who have the opportunity to vote in the ballot is to look at the film, listen to their business colleagues and think very carefully about what sort of city centre we would have if HullBID wasn’t there.

“Who would provide the radio system to link businesses with the police and the Civic1 CCTV operation? Who would clean the graffiti and remove the needles? Who would organise the events which attract thousands of people into the city centre and who would help businesses deal with any problems which arise with Hull City Council and other public bodies?”

To view the film visit the HullBID website at www.hullbid.co.uk