Canterbury Bid

Your BID

A foggy Canterbury skyline with the Cathedral in the centre

Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are business-led partnerships that agree by ballot to pay an extra levy based on rateable value to fund activities, services and improvements that will benefit the businesses and the place in which they operate. As of March 2020 there are over 328 UK BIDs including three in Kent, investing over £130m every year, giving 131,570 business an independent voice and investing in business-led initiatives.

Canterbury BID was established by ballot in 2014, and again in July 2019 for another five-year term, as an independent, business-led, not-for-profit initiative to ensure investment in the city based on the priorities of the business community. 

The BID encompasses over 650 business, primarily within the city walls, and our mission is to help make Canterbury a vibrant, exciting, well connected and successful business community.

The management and governance of the BID is open and transparent and is accountable to the levy payers. The projects and activities of the BID are operated by a small team led by a voluntary Board of Directors, representing the business sectors who operate in the city.

All of the money raised by the BID – from the levy paid by businesses, to voluntary contributions, sponsorship and commercial income – is invested directly back into Canterbury. 

To find out more about the work of Canterbury BID, see the Business Plan 2019-2024 and the projects and activities pages of the website:

During the Coronavirus Crisis, see also the COVID-19 Business Support and Free Training pages.