Town Team approached by UDC
Town Team approached by Uttlesford District Council’s (UDC) economic development officer and cabinet member about the possibilty of creating a BID for Saffron Walden
2018
2018
A town vote was held and the BID was elected
The BID was elected on the business plan circulated to all qualifying town centre businesses
9 Directors formed the BID including
Gary Hyams – Support 4 Sight
Julie Redfern – Beauty Box
Ian Hudson – Oshe
Jim Brewin – Waitrose
Lucy Clarke – Premier Travel
Craig Quainton – CQ Design
Howard Ryles – UDC
Claire Hunnable – Saffron Building Society
Shara Vickers – Tela Ltd2018
2018
The BID chair & manager appointed
Jim Brewin (Waitrose) was elected chair and Louise Scutt-Richter appointed as BID Manager.
2018 - 2019
Events and Activities
The BID organise the following for the town:
Essex Excursions
Christmas Fairy & Elf Hunt
Christmas ‘Spend’ Weekly Prize Draws
Christmas buses
Easter Eggstravaganza
Business Watch WhatsApp Group
2018 - 2019
2019 - 2020
Director changes
New Directors
Mike Riccio – Casa Luxe
Faye Bailey – Between the Lines
James De Vries – Saffron Walden Town Council
Kathryn Horgan – Waitrose
Lesley Elder – Te AmoDirectors who resigned
Jim Brewin – Waitrose
Lucy Clarke – Premier travel
Craig Quainton – CQ Design
Howard Ryles – UDCJan 2020
A new chair and vice chair are elected
Shara Vickers and Julie Redfern were elected as chair and vice chair after Jim Brewin resigned as chair in Jan 2020.
Jan 2020
2019 - 2020
Events and Activities
Christmas 2019
We ran three main events to attract and engage people.
The Saffron Santa Grotto Experience
The Star Quest prize draw
The Spend PrizeDraw competitionChristmas lighting installed for the first time in three areas in town to compliment the Town Councils lights. These new areas include Rose & Crown Walk, The Cockpit and Central Arcade.
March 2020
Covid
We worked through the Covid-19 pandemic together.The pandemic brought about enormous challenges for Saffron Walden town centre business community. We made it our priority to provide support and help to our members. During this time, we connected many of our local businesses, who previously didn’t know each other, to help create a stronger business network.
We set up the Support Saffron Walden Whatsapp groups to answer and address queries, exchange ideas and provide up-to-date information about all COVID related queries.
Worked closely with Uttlesford District Council (UDC) to ensure that grants and loans were made available and received by our members.
We procured and distributed hand sanitiser and stands for use in the town centre.
The BID created, paid for and distributed Covid-19 measure posters, pavement and lamppost signage to help businesses when the government allowed us to open again.
We created and promoted the Support Saffron Walden website as a virtual shopwindow with updates for businesses and the public through lockdown. This meant the people of Saffron Walden knew what essential shops and businesses were open and when.
March 2020
2019 - 2020
In the media
Overall we secured about 30 pieces of coverage in national and local press including; two Sky News interviews, features on BBC Look East, ITV Anglia five times, several national/regional Radio interviews, a double-page spread in the Sunday Express and regular articles in the Saffron Walden Reporter. Since March 2020 – about a third of these relate to post Covid-19 recovery news and over 20 businesses have been profiled across the stories.
2020 - 2021
Director changes
New Directors
Alios Ibryam – The Trawlerman
Jonathan Waters – Waitrose
Lisa Corden – Me & Mrs JonesDirectors who resigned
Gary Hyams – Support 4 Sight
Faye Bailey – Between the Lines
Kathryn Horgan – Waitrose
Lesley Elder – Te Amo2020 - 2021
2020 - 2021
Events and Activities
Throughout the pandemic, the BID focused on helping our business community.
Window on Walden
Click It Local
Spring hanging baskets
Winter 2020:Decorating the town for Christmas alongsidethe Town Council, we installed winter hanging baskets, put up lighting in Rose & Crown Walk. Central Arcade and The Cockpit as well as some Christmas themed window displays in empty properties and set up a Christmas Lights Selfie Arch. In addition, we designed and installed vinyls on the windows of the former Nat West Bank.
Manifesto for Recovery
Love Saffron Walden Campaign on Social media and traditional media
2021 - 2022
Director Changes
New Directors
Andrew Wilcocks – Adnams
Directors who resigned
Jonathan Waters – Waitrose
2021 - 2022
2021 - 2022
Events and Activities
Christmas 2021
Follow the Yellow Brick Road Trail
Extra lights to compliment the Town Councils
2022
Help with accessing grants by working with UDC
Lobbying ECC, UDC, SWTC
Love saffron Walden Campaign
2022 - 2023
Director Changes
New Directors
Joseph Imrie – Bare Beauty
Directors who resigned
Lisa Corden – Me & Mrs Jones
Alios Ibryam – The Trawlerman2022 - 2023
2022 - 2023
Events and Activities
Christmas 2022
Santa’s Grotto
Christmas lights around the town to compliment SWTC’s
Festive Evening
2023
Windows on Walden
A Right Royal Trail
Love Saffron Walden marketing
June 2023
BID voted back in for another 5 years after Ballot
The BIDs aim for the next 5 years
The aim of the BID is to build on our successes of the last five years, continuing to support Saffron Walden as a vibrant and prosperous market town where businesses flourish and work together with a shared vision and purpose.
Over the next five years we want to:
1. Build a stronger business community that feels engaged and supported by the BID
2. Improve the town centre environment and create an attractive place to trade and for customers to visit.
3. Enrich trading, working and customer experiences
4. Develop marketing and promotional campaigns and events to encourage visitors into Saffron Walden
5. Continue to work collaboratively with key town stakeholdersPlease click here to read the Business Plan we circulated to all the BID levy payers before the ballot took place in June
June 2023
2023 - 2024
Director Changes
New Directors
Karen Oakley – Saffron & Sage
Jack Etherington – Dead Time
Deryk Eke – Saffron Walden Town Council
Simon Backhouse – The Cross KeysDirectors who resigned
Mike Riccio – Casa Luxe
Joseph Imrie – Bare Beauty
Claire Hunnable – Saffron Building Society
Ian Hudson – Oshe
James De Vries – Saffron Walden Town Council
Andrew Wilcocks – AdnamsNew BID Manager
Lisa Cleaver
2023 - 2024
Events and Activities
Christmas 2023
Reindeer Roundup Trail
Additional Christmas Lighting
Hospitality members present at SWTC’s Christmas Light Switch on
Rainbow selfie stands
Christmas carol singers for Sunday markets
2024
Lobbying on behalf of our members re car parking price increases
Free training sessions for BID members – social media
Promoting grants and funding for our members
Pick up a Picnic event
Unlock Saffron Walden Summer Trail
2023 - 2024
2024 - 2025
Director Changes
New Directors
Toni Gabell – St Elizabeths Hospice Shop
Directors who resigned
Karen Oakley – Saffron & Sage
Simon Backhouse – The Cross Keys2024 - 2025
Events and Activities
Christmas 2024
Additional Christmas Lighting
Christmas Tree on Market Row
Hospitality members present at SWTC’s Christmas Light Switch on
Christmas carol singers for Sunday markets
2025
May – Wedding fair
Summer Olympic Trail
Lobbying on behalf of our members re car parking price increases
Free training sessions for BID members – Walden Workshops – HR & First Aid
Remembrance Poppy Trail
Promoting grants and funding for our members
2024 - 2025
2025 - 2026
Director Changes
New Directors
Charlotte O’Malley – Elizza
Harriet Ferris-Lay – Bare Beauty
Danielle Harding – Plant Pantry
Karen Oakley – Saffron & SageDirectors who resigned
Shara Vickers – Tela Ltd
Julie Redfern – Beauty BoxNew BID Manager
Pri Bamford
BID Updates
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Contact Us
Please get in touch if you have any questions about the BID and we will get back to you.
Email us at: pri@saffronwaldenbid.co.uk
Saffron Walden Business Improvement District
9 Market Row
Saffron Walden
CB10 1HB