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Welcome to the English Riviera Business Improvement District (ERBID)

2017 – 2021

In 2016 the English Riviera’s tourism industry faced a cliff edge with local council funding to support tourism promotion withdrawn as part of austerity measures.

In response to the need for the English Riviera to remain competitive local tourism and hospitality businesses made the decision to establish an English Riviera Business Improvement District (ERBID) as a mechanism to secure sustainable funds for Destination Marketing.  A positive vote was secured in an independent ballot in 2016 and as a result, £500k per annum has been collected through the collection of a statutory annual levy, paid by eligible businesses.  The levy for the ERBID is based on 1.95% of Rateable Values over £3k, with a minimum contribution of £150 per annum.

Strength comes from partnership. BID’s work like a cooperative and provide a very effective way for businesses to work together and to fairly share the costs of providing a service that they value. In the case of Torbay this service was for the continuation of professionally coordinated Destination Marketing including national advertising.

Required by law is an independent company to run a BID. Post ballot, the English Riviera BID Company was established as a new private sector led, not-for-profit limited by guarantee company with responsibility to deliver the 5-Year ERBID Business Plan, prepared in consultation with the industry. Meet the ERBID Board and Executive Team.

The Key Objectives of the ERBID Business Plan are:

  • To protect and grow the year-round value and volume of English Riviera’s tourism industry
  • To maximise sustainable funds to invest in professionally coordinated regional, national and international promotion
  • To support the tourism sector in maximising turnover and profits

ERBID2:  2022 – 2027

We are required by law to ballot levy payers every 5 years. This allows businesses to collectively decide whether or not they want to a BID. A renewal ballot will take place in 2021. We believe there is no alternative to securing a further £3 million to promote the English Riviera in an effective way. Tourism is vitally important to the English Riviera providing 18% of total employment (compared to 5% nationally) and generating in excess of £450 million for the local economy.

Please do take time to explore the ERBID website so that you can see how your business can benefit from working in partnership.