Reading’s Economy & Destination Agency (REDA) has announced the appointment of Alexa Volker as the town’s new Business Improvement District (BID) manager.
She had previously spent four years as operations manager for the town’ two BIDs, Reading Central and Abbey Quarter, which improve and promote the areas on behalf of its total 600 businesses.
Her role involves liaison with those organisations to ensure delivery of the 2019-24 BID business plans. She services the BIDs’ two committees as well as working with partners to implement wide-ranging initiatives.
Already this year the BIDs’ work has included installing Summer floral displays across the town centre, managing the BIDs’ two wardens, introducing new planting along the Kennet, supporting town centre events such as Are You Listening? Festival, promoting Reading’s independent businesses on Independents’ Day, extra street cleaning, supplying drink-spiking test kits for town centre bars and night clubs and ensuring the town centre looked its best for the Jubilee.
Alexa said: “I am delighted to have taken up the post of BID manager for Reading. Across our two BID areas, we have an amazing array of businesses and organisations which, together, create a dynamic and thriving town centre.
“As BID manager, my job is to make sure we create the best conditions for these businesses to flourish, whether that is helping them practically with bespoke services such as recycling collections or programming yoga classes for their staff to make Reading town centre a great place to come and work.
“Over the next two years, we will be focusing on developing a new wellbeing programme for people working in the town centre, putting on great events and supporting a sustainable Reading with a series of green initiatives.”
Andy Briggs, general manager of The Oracle and chair of Reading BID, said: “Alexa has worked tirelessly with the retail, hospitality and office businesses in the town centre over the last four years and all that learning means she has hit the ground running.”
Andrew Whiteaker, partner at law firm Boyes Turner, said; “Alexa is a delight to work with, full of enthusiasm and deserving of the promotion. She has an endless range of ideas that will make the return to the office experience for employees even more enjoyable, from yoga before work to networking walks and Christmas fun events.”
Image (l-r): Andy Briggs, general manager of The Oracle, Alexa Volker, Reading BIDs manager, Nigel Horton-Baker, executive director of REDA, and Andrew Whiteaker, partner at Boyes Turner.
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