High Streets UK’s early efforts focused on business rates reform – a critical issue for city centre destinations. A detailed impact analysis revealed that proposed changes to the system could unfairly affect high street businesses, many of which are already facing increasing pressures.
High Streets UK - Press Releases
Progress Through Partnership : Our work with High Streets UK
Earlier this year, we joined other flagship high street BIDs from across the UK to form High Streets UK, a new national coalition committed to championing and shaping the future of our city centres.
08/05/2025
Since the official launch of High Streets UK at the House of Commons in January this year, we’ve already made strong progress. As a founding member, Bristol City Centre BID has played a key role in bringing together city voices to influence national policy, elevate shared priorities and develop practical recommendations to support our high streets.
Our Director, Vicky Lee, has helped shape the group’s direction from the outset, ensuring that the priorities of Bristol’s businesses are fully represented in these national discussions.
Vicky Lee, Director of Bristol City Centre BID, said:
“This partnership presents a valuable opportunity to help Bristol’s businesses continue to grow in spite of challenging economic conditions. Collaborating on a national scale allows us to influence policy and work effectively to ensure the survival of businesses and the continuation of a thriving business environment in the city.”Our impact so far...
This collective approach has helped elevate the voice of city centres in Westminster and ensure that the unique needs of high street businesses are heard and considered.
Working together, we presented our findings to the Treasury and submitted a coordinated response to the Government’s discussion paper, alongside policy recommendations designed to support economic growth. These included calls for a freeze on the proposed higher multiplier and exemptions for retail, leisure and hospitality sectors – areas which are key to the vibrancy of Bristol’s city centre.
What’s next...
As we look ahead to the next stage of our involvement, High Streets UK will continue to focus on influencing change in areas that matter most to our levy payers. Through quarterly forums and ongoing collaboration, we are helping to shape a national conversation that puts flagship city centres at the heart of the UK’s economic future. Our next forum in June will focus on business crime, where we will also be meeting the Policing Minister’s team to discuss our challenges further.
At a local level, this work complements our current efforts to unite Bristol’s three existing BIDs into a single, stronger Bristol BID from November 2025. The themes being addressed nationally, from fairer funding models to creating more resilient, welcoming places, reflect our own ambitions for the city and the future we’re building together.
By working across city boundaries while staying rooted in Bristol, we are ensuring that our high street not only has a seat at the table, but a voice that drives real change.
