Energy sharing among occupiers to save costs is to be considered if Bracknell’s business improvement district (BID) secures a ‘yes’ vote for its next five-year term.
Around 100 people gathered at the Maxis office development on Tuesday, September 17 to hear about plans for renewing the BID, which covers the southern and western industrial areas and is one of the biggest in the UK.
Carbon reduction and sustainability is one of two main objectives of the business plan for 2025 – 2030, alongside business growth and investment.
BID manager Sean Griffin told the meeting: “Something very exciting in the new BID plan we have just put down within one of the objectives about sharing energy resources.
“So if a business is able to generate energy through solar panels of wind turbines or whatever, if we can share that across the different businesses around the neighbouring businesses that could potentially reduce their cost and make it more efficient and reduce carbon.”
Deputy chair Rob Collis said there could be potential for a BID area wide scheme that could put Bracknell on the map.
Earlier, Mr Collis told the meeting that current uncertainty and volatility in the world can be mitigated by the work of a BID.
He said: “The BID gives solidarity, it gives a base for lots of the businesses. Over five years the Bracknell BID has successfully invested around £2.5 million so having the BID here for the next five years actually helps overcome uncertainty.
“Businesses will have somewhere to come back to, somewhere to find out what’s going on in the labour market, in grants and in education and skills.”
Mr Griffin highlighted the achievements of the current BID including shuttle bus, a loyalty card, shared cycle scheme and improved public realm and planting.
He went on: “One of the big things is the community feel the BID has built, not only from the meet-your-neighbours that we have but also the regular fitness bootcamps we have and the free spinning classes.”
A variety of training has also been given to BID area employees. BID occupiers reported the benefits during the current term.
Kevin Morrison from Midwich said customers visiting from afar were impressed by the environment. Jon Morgan, chief executive of In ‘n’ Out Autocentres, said the BID helped bring about collaboration between neighbouring businesses and Lucy Spencer, director of Education Boutique, said the BID had helped make Bracknell a nice place.
Voting takes place next month and, if a ‘yes’ vote is secured, the new term will begin in April 2025.
Image (l-r): shows Rob Collis, Sean Griffin and Ian Ferguson, director of pfbb.
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