Some may see heritage preservation as a challenge, but in Bath, UK, it’s an opportunity. With fewer than 90,000 residents drawing 6 million visitors a year, the results speak for themselves.

In this episode, Allison Herbert, CEO of the Bath Business Improvement District (BID), shares how one of the UK’s most historic cities manages the balance between charm and commerce while delivering tangible economic development outcomes for local businesses. 

From Bridgerton fans and Jane Austen festivals to seagulls and public toilets, she walks us through the surprisingly practical side of managing a globally recognized, locally loved district.

Key Takeaways:

• How the BID’s voluntary, opt-in model delivers greater value back to its community members
• How they respond within minutes to concerns with hands-on, hyper-local solutions like cleaning crews and security teams that local businesses can count on
• Why collaboration between neighboring cities isn’t just smart, it’s essential
• How the BID leverages clever strategies to handle tourism pressure, homelessness, and even protected seagulls

Resources Mentioned: 

• Bath BID Projects & Initiatives

About the Guest:

Allison Herbert is the CEO of the Bath Business Improvement District (BID). She brings extensive experience across both the public and private sectors, with a background in events, economic development, and project management. Allison leads a 10-person team delivering services that support more than 650 businesses in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bath, UK. You can connect with Allison on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/allisonherbert 

The EDO Breakthrough podcast is brought to you by PPR Strategies. PPR Strategies is a strategic consulting firm working specifically with EDOs and other place-based organizations. We share the unique stories of communities through communications, strategic planning, marketing, media relations, and more.

Visit us at pprstrategies.com/edobreakthrough to learn more and to submit a question for a future episode.

Produced and edited by SpeakEasy Productions.