​​​

​Over the last 10 years, Wonderful Welwyn Garden City has achieved so much for our town centre, and we’re not ready to stop.

​

Welwyn Garden City’s businesses have voted YES to another five years of the Welwyn Garden City Business Improvement District (WGC BID), giving the team a strong mandate to continue investing in, promoting and championing the town centre from 2027 to 2032. 

 

The result is a huge boost for the BID team, who have worked alongside BID levy paying businesses since 2017 to make Welwyn Garden City a more vibrant, welcoming and successful place to shop, work, visit and do business.

 

With a vote in favour by number of 95.3% and vote in favour by value of 97.1 %,With a turnout of more than 45%, the ballot demonstrates the strength of engagement from the town’s business community and provides a clear endorsement of the BID’s work and its ambitious business plan for the next five years.

 

The team is delighted by the result and has thanked everyone who took the time to vote, encouraged others to take part, spread the word and supported the BID throughout the ballot period.

 

BID Co-Chair Mike Paraliki said: “We are absolutely delighted with this result and want to say a huge thank you to every business that voted YES and everyone who supported us. Having this level of backing means so much. It shows that businesses believe in what we do and share our ambition for the future of Welwyn Garden City.

“I am very proud of our town and the BID team and Board. Over the last ten years, we have worked so hard to support businesses, bring people into the town and put Welwyn Garden City on the map. I am so pleased our hard work and dedication have received this recognition, and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve together over the next five years.”

 

Since its establishment in 2017, the WGC BID has invested more than £3 million in Welwyn Garden City town centre through business levy collections, sponsorship, grants, event income, its online shop and digital marketing channels. Working as a small team of three people sharing just two roles, BID Managers Nicky Kane and Mariana Bitonte, who job-share the management role, alongside Events and Marketing Manager Lee Rowark, have delivered an extensive programme of events, marketing campaigns and town centre improvements.

 

Among the BID’s best-known initiatives are the popular World Food Festival and annual Christmas Lights event, which attracts thousands of visitors to the town. The team has also invested in award-winning floral displays, large-scale Christmas light installations, business support and year-round destination marketing through its WonderfulWGC digital channels.

 

The YES vote means the team can build on these achievements and turn its

plans for the next five years into reality.

 

Looking ahead, BID Manager Nicky Kane said:

 

“We are genuinely grateful to every business that has put its trust in us. We know how much our town centre businesses have to juggle, so the time they have taken to vote and show their support means a great deal to us.

 

“We have lots of exciting ideas for the next five years. Our signature events will remain a big part of what we do, but we also want to explore new opportunities to bring people into the town, support businesses to grow and make our town centre an even better place to spend time.

 

“We will continue to champion Welwyn Garden City through our WonderfulWGC marketing channels, build strong partnerships and work with businesses to make a real difference. This result gives us the confidence and opportunity to keep moving forward, and we cannot wait to get started.”

 

Councillor Jane Quinton, Executive Member Environment and Borough Councillor representative on the WGC BID Board said:

“The results of the ballot are a resounding endorsement of the great work that the BID team has done, working in partnership with local businesses, to promoting our wonderful Welwyn Garden City town centre.  I would like to congratulate the BID team on the result of the ballot wish them every success for the next five years.”

The renewed term will focus on three core themes: Proud Place, Thriving Economy and Welcoming Environment.

 

For the BID team, the result is not just a vote for another five years. It is a vote of confidence in the work already done, the businesses that make the town special and the shared ambition to make Welwyn Garden City even better.

 

The team is looking forward to working with businesses, partners and the wider

community to deliver the next chapter for the town from 2027 to 2032.

​

​​

​​​​​​​​​​​

Download the BID Business Plan Summary

Download the Full BID Business Plan

Download the BID Ballot Declaration of Result

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​