Plymouth Waterfront Partnership Business Improvement District has become one of only 20 UK BIDs to gain a top accreditation.
The PWP BID has successfully achieved accreditation from both British BIDs, joining 19 others from around the country, and The BID Foundation.
British BIDs is the UK industry-recognised standard and is externally assessed by independent auditors, including members of the National BIDs Advisory Board.
The accreditation is designed in line with the National BID Criteria and the National Guiding Principles for BIDs. British BIDs accreditation provides an assessment of the BID’s governance, management and operations, financials, performance management, communication and reporting.
The process aims to increase operational effectiveness and improve standards through a comprehensive review and helps BIDs to be the best they can be through advice on how to operate successfully, and provides reassurance to levy payers that the BID has effective governance in place, and is accountable, transparent and trustworthy.
The BID Foundation is an independent, industry-led body led by the Institute of Place Management. PWP has met the recognised industry standards for its new website, which ensures that important information about the BID’s management and governance is easily accessible.
Diane Mansell, chief executive of PWP, said: “We’re proud to have received accreditation from both British BIDs and The BID Foundation, demonstrating our hard work and professionalism. We are committed to providing the best service we can for our levy payers, and these independently assessed awards show to our members that we’re successfully working in their best interests.
Ms Mansell only took over at PWP BID in September 2020, following Sarah Gibson who stepped down after 10 years. Ms Mansell has previously managed the Soho Road BID in Birmingham.
The PWP BID covers Plymouth’s seafront, which extends from Mount Batten and Coxside, around Sutton Harbour, the Barbican and the Hoe, all the way to Stonehouse peninsula. Plymouth has two BIDs, Plymouth City Centre Company, which covers the retail heart of the city centre, and PWP which covers four square miles of waterfront with a vibrant mix of hospitality, retail, leisure, office, accommodation and attractions.
Together they represent more than 1,300 businesses and help to promote and manage regeneration schemes, events and street trading generating millions of pounds of investment.
