Enniskillen BID is asking local businesses to vote yes and support another five-year plan for the Business Improvement District (BID).

Enniskillen BID Manager, Noelle McAloon, said: “Our business plan for 2022-2027 celebrates our many successes, but I really feel like BID has just got started.

“We have more engagement from the businesses, and their ideas are coming to life as we can initiate projects and make a difference.

“Our influence saw the establishment of the Water Hub with the Red Boats, and our partnership with the Council saw the new Heart selfie [public sculpture] at the Broadmeadow.

“Enniskillen BID exists to support businesses in a flexible and relevant way. The business plan considers the severe difficulties faced by local businesses and puts in place a plan to address, overcome and grow.

“The BID board are consistently reviewing the projects to ensure the BID is relevant and responsive to business’ needs, and as a result have put in place a new mission, vision and set of commitments to ensure it is providing the best possible service to our members.”

Enniskillen BID have been operating since 2017 and have recorded several hugely successful initiatives. In 2017, the BID launched the Enniskillen Gift Card, which was a first for a town in Northern Ireland, and now has more than 130 businesses registered and sales of more than £435,000, to date.

The card was hailed as the best-selling gift card town programme in 2019 and 2020.

The Experience Enniskillen brand was also a BID initiative also and it is now one of the most trusted and go-to social Fermanagh media pages on Facebook and Instagram.

BID has managed seasonal campaigns that aim to increase footfall into Enniskillen ranging from the Winter Wonderland, to live music at Enniskillen Castle, to characters and music in town.

The mural projects were a very visual success in 2021 for the BID, with the Happy Prince mural at Water Street helping to create awareness of the town centre-wide Oscar Wilde project featuring gold leaf swallows.

The Adrian Dunbar mural beside Charlie’s Bar was a social media success, with hundreds of shares and posts, including endorsements from actors Vicki McClure and Martin Compston, and Adrian’s family, as he isn’t on social media himself.

Pat Blake, Chair of Enniskillen BID, added, “I am delighted to present this proposal to set out how we intend to work for, represent and support all of our local businesses over the next five-year period.

“It’s an exciting time, with the £1 million investment from BID, the opportunities for funding that BID can bring and the Gift Card sales of a potential £1 million. I sincerely urge [businesses] to lend us [their] yes vote in our upcoming ballot, to make sure BID can represent and reflect [their] voice and views.

“Ballot papers have now been issued, so I would urge them to support us in voting yes before March 10.”

While Enniskillen BID is seeking another term, there is no slowing down of activity for the company which is behind the Live at the Castle events that will see a Big Top tent in situ at Enniskillen Castle for 10 nights, with a mix of live music, comedy and family events.

Enniskillen BID continues to provide support to local businesses via Digital Enniskillen and the vacant unit support package.

Civica Election Services are the responsible body for running the ballot as an independent scrutineer.

To download a copy of Enniskillen BID’s business plan, see www.experience-enniskillen.com.