A BID (Business Improvement District) is a geographical area in which local businesses have voted to invest collectively to improve the environment for commercial activity. An organisation – such as angel.london – is then formed to deliver these improvements, answerable to a board of local business people.

Those services are identified and requested by those member businesses, who pay a levy to fund them. They are additional to those already provided by the police and local authority. Services may include extra safety, cleaning, environmental improvements, or member benefits.

Every five years, members vote to continue the BID for another five years. The BID at the Angel was established in 2007, voted in again in 2011, 2016 and most recently in 2021.

The BID works to a five-year business plan which is published at the start of each term. It is set out into four themes:

'Safer' - covering our crime prevention work, patrolling, business watch and pub watch groups, Business Crime Reduction Partnership, training and work with police.

'Cleaner' - including our business waste recycling scheme, bulky collections, Spring cleans and work with the council to monitor the environment and report issues for remedy.

'Brighter' - covering everything from our major investment in tree lights and Christmas displays, flower baskets, planters and banners. Also includes our promotion of the Angel Islington neighbourhood.

'Stronger' - which includes our work to support and represent businesses, including the Angel Marketing and Culture Group, Angel Responsible Business Network, net zero strategy and B Corp creation.

You can download the business plan here.

The BID levy is 1% of Rateable Value (RV) using the current Rating List.

The BID levy is charged on all properties in the BID area which appear in the Ratings List with a Rateable Value (RV) of £25,500 or more. Within the Business Design Centre or designated shared workspaces, only businesses with a RV of £50,000 or more will pay the 1% levy contribution.

The BID levy payable for any hereditament shall not exceed £25,000 per annum.

Ratepayers in receipt of mandatory charitable relief from Business Rates will receive a 50% discount on the BID levy.

A ratepayer is liable to pay the BID levy on an unoccupied property without any void period or any empty allowance.

The BID levy will be a daily charge, paid annually in advance.

There will be no VAT charged on the BID levy.

Islington Council is responsible for collecting the levy on behalf Angel BID Ltd.

Properties that come into the Rating List during the BID term will be subject to the BID levy from the effective date that the property is brought into the Rating List and the RV effective at that time.

Where the RV for a hereditament changes and results in a lower BID levy, this comes into effect only from the start of the financial year in which the change is made and no refunds of the BID levy will be made for previous years.

The Angel BID Ltd Board will be able to alter the BID arrangements, without an alteration ballot, so long as the alterations do not:

– Alter the geographical area of the BID
– Cause anyone to pay the BID levy who was not liable to pay it or increase the amount of the BID levy for anyone
– Conflict with the Local Government Act 2003 or the Business Improvement District Regulations 2004.