I’m [not] dreaming of a vacant Christmas

Today's blog comes from Gavin Stewart, Manager of Brighton's Business Improvement District (BID), a group of over 500 local businesses working together to improve their trading environment... with great results.

As the year draws to a close, the latest economic data from Brighton City centre may be grim reading to some.  But underlying the statistics, the city is faring better than many of its competitors.  

The Office of National Statistics recently reported a growth in GDP of 0.8% for the period July – Sept.  This relatively positive news is masked, for the retail and leisure sector at least, with a national footfall drop of 4.8% on the previous year.  Looking at national vacancy rates, the Local Data Company has reported a small reduction in the average to 14.1%, while the BRC/Springboard metric has increased to rise above 11% for the first time.

In Brighton City Centre, footfall isn’t faring too well and is currently 9.8% down on 2012 figures.  Unsurprisingly, a recent survey of the total number of shop vacancies in the wider city centre has shown an increase in the total number of available units from 5.10% to 5.42%. When reflected in the mirror of the national averages however, Brighton is still outperforming vast swathes of the county.

With places like Blackburn currently witness to a vacancy rate of over 26%, there will be thousands of businesses praying for a lot more than a white Christmas.  And with that in mind, Brighton’s low rates really are something to be celebrated.  Cambridge for example is currently sitting at 7% vacant. We've got one of the lowest vacancy rates in the country, an enviable events calendar and a rising population - people clearly want to be here!

This data is compiled by the City’s Business Improvement District or BID.  The BID is a group of 517 city centre businesses that have agreed to put an additional levy on top of their business rates in to a pot to fund projects that will improve their trading environment.  As a consequence of these improvements, the city centre actually starts to become a much more attractive place for everyone, not just the businesses.  Our projects range from data collection through the providing the city’s stunning annual display of Christmas Lights.  During the year we also run a hugely successful Ambassadors programme which aims to reduce antisocial behaviour.  Already this year we’ve returned over £50,000 worth of stolen goods to shops and helped Sussex Police gather enough intelligence to lead to over 200 arrests.

In the summer months we dress the city to give it a festival feel and manage the Brilliant Brighton website and social media (now over 4000 unique visitors a month plus over 5000 twitter followers and e-mail subscribers).  All of which is aimed at engaging locals and visitors alike to take an interest in their city centre and visit their unique High Street regularly.

Although we can’t attribute any of the city’s successes directly to the work we do, by virtue of the fact that over 500 businesses have come together means that we can do so much to link the city together for the benefit of everyone.

Brighton is a great place, and it’s made ever greater by the businesses within it – show a little love this festive season and buy some pressies locally and spare a thought for the Blackburn’s of this world.

If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk