Focus on marketing
Despite the arrival of several new start-up businesses, there are still many empty units blighting the look and feel of the town. Although at 6.8% our vacancy rate is half the national average we are anything but complacent.
A number one marketing priority is to encourage more inward investment – aimed at filling these empty premises. The BID website is about to feature a commercial property availability search, so details of any empty unit in the town will be just a click away. This will be updated regularly by the BID Rangers, who will be liaising with property agents and landlords.
Other marketing initiatives are already proving successful. Our ‘dine local’ drive was acclaimed by the businesses taking part. Bucklersbury now enjoys enhanced signage at its entrance from the Market Place as do Sun St and Churchgate. And Hitchin map pads have proved very popular.
Our Community Awareness day was much praised and is to be repeated in the coming year. A Wedding Fayre is also planned and a tourism ‘town trail’ is being created, with input from the Hitchin civic and history societies.
The County Council has also engaged on the local economy, with Hertfordshire Forward, and Hitchin BID has joined their Vibrant Towns group - prompting renewed interest in the BID concept from other towns in the county, based on the outstanding success of the process in Hitchin.
Your feedback and suggestions are welcomed, please email keith@hitchinbid.com