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KTCM appoints “Business Improvement District” Coordinator
Ms. Worsfold has vast experience in this area of work having earlier this year successfully led the Falkirk BID to a “YES” vote and has also finished writing a handbook on BIDs for the Scottish Government. Her role as BID Coordinator will be to make contact with all town centre businesses and discuss with them the issues which are critically important to them and then collate the information before ultimately putting forward a Business Plan of how these concerns will be addressed. This communications process will involve personal visits which have already begun while a questionnaire survey will be conducted in the New Year take some 18 months. Colin Brown, KTCM Chairman, hailed the appointment, “We are delighted to welcome Linda to provide a focussed approach to coordinating the BID effort. Her appointment meets 2 of our current strategic objectives of engaging with local businesses and developing the BID proposal for and on behalf of Kirkcaldy Town Centre. We are also pleased to receive the support of Fife Council and the Scottish Government which now enables us to progress this important project.” Sunil Varu, Kirkcaldy Town Centre Manager, added, “There are over 70 BIDs throughout the UK and over 500 across the world so this is not a new concept but one which we believe has merit for Kirkcaldy’s future prosperity. Importantly, any BID is led by the local businesses in tackling those issues which matter to them. It is these issues which Linda will focus on initially on behalf of KTCM and we will be looking for key businesses from the Town Centre to be part of a BID Management Board in the coming months to progress this business -led project. Each business within the defined Town Centre boundary – e.g. retailers, restaurants, pubs, clubs, professional services and all others – has already received a BIDs “Factsheet” and will be given the opportunity to voice their views. They will be challenged to believe that they are very much part of the solution and therefore to make their contribution to the debate. Initial meetings with local businesses have begun but the process will take about 18 months because we have over 350 businesses to approach and get feedback from them. Due to Christmas and other holidays throughout the year, it will take time to spend quality time with businesses as this is not a case of paying lip service to their needs” |
Kirkcaldy
Town Centre Management has appointed Linda Worsfold as Kirkcaldy
Business Improvement District Coordinator for an 18-month period.
The move followed as KTCM secured funding from the Scottish Government
and Fife Council to make a concerted effort to secure the support
of the Kirkcaldy business community to vote for a BID.
