Enniskillen BID: 82 per cent say yes as county town bids to improve

“I voted Yes because this will allow us to collectively pool our resources and form a company that manages those resources which we have control of and is completely separate from local Council. Over five years £1.12 million will be invested locally for the benefit of businesses, when we reach this stage we truly can manage our destiny. As a business owner this is a no brainer,” said businessman Joe Kelly.

Read: 600 businesses to vote on becoming a BID area

A 42 day voting period ended on Friday. Turnout was at 49 per cent (around 300 businesses), with 82 per cent voting Yes and 18 per cent voting No. BIDs legislation states that all businesses must pay the levy, even if they voted no.
Chair of Enniskillen BID Task Team, Anna Devlin, of Cavanagh Kelly Accountants said: “This is a very exciting result and we can all look forward to the next chapter when the Enniskillen BID is fully operational.”
UUP MP Tom Elliott said the result shows that “businesses have realised that, in difficult economic times, a more joined up approach is required to improve Enniskillen.” He added: “With many local established businesses in Enniskillen who know what their businesses need, I am positive that this will have a positive impact.”
The Enniskillen BID Task Team has been working with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council since November 2015 to secure a yes vote. The Task Team members are: Thomas Harpur, Pat Blake, Nicky Cassidy, Terry McCartney, Tanya Cathcart, Jim Masterson, Declan Devlin, Jonathan Poots, Jonathan Styles and Anne Mooney. They estimate that the BID levy will generate £1.12 million over a five year period which would be spent on a range of new initiatives to boost the local economy.
Jim Masterson believes that the Enniskillen BID will “provide an excellent opportunity for what many local business owners have been asking for many years – to have control on the allocation of funding to be spent directly on projects that will deliver.”
A Limited Company will now be set up and the BID Task Team will form the interim Board of Directors for the first year. A formal board election will be held at the first annual general meeting in which any levy paying business will be eligible to stand for BID Board Director. The Council will also maintain a role going forward to ensure “joined-up working.”

Read: Enniskillen chosen to pilot BID programme

BID levy payers will have a stake in the BID Company. Members of the BID Company will control what the BID funds are spent on and can hold the BID Company to account throughout the term. A full time Enniskillen BID Manager is likely to be employed to assist all businesses in the levy area. 
Over the next five years, the Task Team suggests that £265,000 is spent on boosting business; £410,000 on enticing customers; and £199,900 on enhancing the experience of visitors to Enniskillen. Overheads will include staff costs, training, insurance, financial costs and contingencies.
New initiatives will include an up to date town website and seamless social media presence; supporting larger events within the town; establishing a Business Assist Programme to help grow town centre businesses; the collective procurement of a range of business services to reduce business costs; enhanced security features to ensure visitors feel safe; improved signage within the BID area; and customer loyalty schemes.
Enniskillen BID will also work to generate additional income such as grants and commercial sponsorships.
Chair of FODC Mary Garrity said: “The Council shares the local business community’s vision to ensure that people see Enniskillen as a town which offers an excellent quality of life; a great place to live, work and visit. Moving forward the Council also looks forward to continue working with the BID Company once it is established and to help the local business community to shape Enniskillen’s future.”