Hamilton Bid Limited

The principal activity of the company during the year was investment in the local business environment. Hamilton BID LTD, operating as Hamilton Our Town, continued to deliver activity set out within the 2022 Business Plan, supporting the vitality, visibility, and viability of Hamilton town centre. 'Pride in our town'. In the year, we continued to invest in the appearance and day-to-day environment of the town centre. This included the ongoing maintenance of 20 planters through our external contractor, shop front grants, regular engagement with local partners and continued provision of free-to-use town centre public Wi-Fi. We also maintained regular monitoring of environmental issues such as fly-tipping and cleanliness, ensuring these were reported and addressed. 'Voice for our town'. This focus included continued partnership working with the local authority, key stakeholders and ongoing engagement in relation to the town centre masterplan. We continued to support initiatives that improve accessibility and footfall, including the continuation of free parking measures linked to Quarry Street opening, with data indicating a strong positive impact on visitor numbers due to this action. 'Spotlight on our town'. Marketing and promotional activity remained a key focus continuing to provide a consistent and visible platform for the town centre. This included regular digital campaigns, website updates, social media activity, and advertising campaigns. Hamilton BID Ltd remains the primary organisation actively promoting Hamilton town centre, delivering this activity within a modest budget. 'Life in our town'. A programme of events and markets continued throughout the year, contributing significantly to footfall and town centre activity. This included monthly markets, seasonal events and community-focused activity such as our new summer festival and other themed events. These events generated substantial additional visits to the town centre, with evidence indicating strong public support and a proportion of visitors travelling from outside Hamilton. The market operation continued to to develop, generating income through stall hire and sponsorship while also providing free access opportunities for local BID area businesses. In addition to economic impact, events delivered wider community benefit, including free family-friendly activities and accessible programming.