The King’s Road Partnership BID recently held its official launch at Chelsea Old Town Hall with over 100 business representative guests from across the district in attendance.
Outlining the BID’s vision for the coming five years following an 85% majority vote in favour of the Partnership after a ballot of 300 businesses across the district, Steve Medway, Chief Executive of the King’s Road Partnership outlined five Pillars of forward-looking activity:
- Business Recovery
- Destination Marketing
- Quality Environment
- Business Support and Insight
- Collaboration and Partnership
Steve explained: “These five pillars of activity were identified after many months’ of engagement with local businesses, residents, councillors and community leaders.
“We are here to be the voice of King’s Road businesses and will help you increase sales and lower costs by building on the area’s unique characteristics and global reputation, evolving this to meet the challenges of the ever-changing retail and hospitality environment.
“We are already providing leadership and a range of services to help King’s Road businesses in their immediate recovery from the impact of the pandemic and support longer-term growth.
“We have established the Street Team, produce weekly newsletters, deliver partnership activities on marketing and events, and are also the collective voice of business in the district.”
Indeed, this latter point has already been evidenced in the form of the Partnership BID’s support for the successful campaign to government to bring back tax-free shopping for overseas visitors, a welcome boost to under-pressure London high streets and businesses across the UK.
Other key comments from the launch event included:
Hugh Seaborn, Chairman of the King’s Road Partnership BID
“I’m very pleased that we’re here to launch our collective endeavour – the King’s Road Partnership BID – our mission is to encourage businesses to work together so that we can ensure visitors come to the area, stay and spend more of their money here with you. We also want to make the area more secure and prosperous at every level. I’m delighted we have a very strong board and member businesses to help us achieve this.”
Cllr Elizabeth Campbell, Leader of Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea
“The creation of the BID is one of the key signs at work of the Council’s high street programme. This includes the experience of everyone who visits, lives and works in our internationally-renowned high streets and that is why we will keep working on this. Together we have set aside £15 million of investment across the borough, making it a more attractive place to be, and encouraging people to spend more time here.”
Rt Honourable Greg Hands, MP for Chelsea & Fulham
“The King’s Road Partnership is taking the King’s Road’s incredible past and making sure it remains current, along with an amazing team led by Steve taking a much bigger and stronger role in the community. Having been a government minister for ten years I’ve seen a lot of councils up and down the country and can tell you in confidence that the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is Britain’s best run local authority.”
