Chester BID announces new board member to push city centre’s strategic direction

Chester’s Business Improvement District has announced the appointment of a new board member in its drive to sustain and support the city centre’s business.

Andy Farrall joins the board with a wealth of experience navigating city centres and regions to economic success.

Katrina Kerr, Chester BID chair, said: ‘Andy brings a huge amount of expertise to our board, in both a tourism recovery remit and in the resuscitation of economic growth through a challenging climate. He recently sat as interim chief executive for Marketing Cheshire, establishing Destination Chester and Destination Cheshire so has an excellent insight into Chester. He also worked on Covid-19 resilience for Chester and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, following his role as Deputy Chief Executive for Warrington Borough Council. He has an exemplary understanding of the wider Covid landscape, and he brings to our board a brilliant strategic mind - used to implementing schemes for city centre resurgence, a track record of place making and a focus on helping cities like Chester future proof their offering.’

Andy currently runs his own consultancy, working with private sector and property clients alongside his work in the public sector. He was Chair of the Regional Advisory Board for the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund and the English Historic Forum and was a board member for Culture North West.

Andy Farrall said: ‘I’ve made Chester my base because it’s simply the best place to live and enjoy - it has so much potential. However, the city is suffering on a number of fronts and is facing some acute challenges that need addressing urgently with both leadership and creativity – as part of the BID Board I’m looking forward to bringing my skills, experience and energy  to help the BID and the city through these challenging times to a more prosperous and colourful future’.

Katrina added: ‘Andy's appointment demonstrates the need to get the best skills possible to help the city weather the current Covid storm, and we hope more people will want to get involved in the future. Meanwhile the Chester BID is there to work for its levy payers and visitors to Chester to ensure the city is safe and trading as best it can.’

Chester BID has just completed a re-launch - changing its name for clarity, and branding to represent a new serious focus whist implementing a shift of resources from city centre events to drive footfall to hands-on support for businesses, attracting new businesses to CH1 and providing a communication channel between businesses and the consumer through the #ChesterTogether campaign.

About Chester BID Company:

A Business Improvement District (BID) is a business-led, business-funded body created to improve a defined commercial area. Chester BID is funded solely by the businesses within the city.

There are over 460 businesses in Chester’s BID area with a rateable value of more than £18,000. Each of these contribute a levy equal to 1% of their business rates every year to fund a wide range of improvements identified by the businesses themselves. It is expected that approximately £2.5m of private sector funds will be generated over the five-year BID term and this money will be reinvested back into the city centre.

In June 2019, hundreds of businesses voted in favour of the plans to renew the BID’s term in Chester and on September 1^st, 2019, Chester BID Company started a second five year-term with the intention of continuing to deliver a more vibrant and successful trading environment for Chester city centre.

For more information, visit www.ChesterBID.co.uk

Pictured - Andy Farrall