Placemaking Across Borders: A Conversation with Rachel Braithwaite (OBIAA)

In this international edition of the Vicinity Podcast, we’re joined by Rachel Braithwaite, Executive Director of the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA), to explore how placemaking, governance, and business engagement differ—and align—across the UK and Canada.

🌎 What we cover:
• Rachel’s journey into the world of BIAs and her future role at OBIAA
• The key differences between UK BIDs and Ontario BIAs
• How levies are structured and collected in Canada
• Accountability, stakeholder trust, and transparency in BIA operations
• Cultural and regional dynamics, including Indigenous engagement
• The future of BIAs: innovation, equity, and digital transformation

💡 Whether you're part of a BID in the UK or a BIA in Canada, this episode is packed with insight into what makes placemaking work—and why local context matters.

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on governance, place management, and local economic leadership.

#Placemaking #BIDs #BIAs #VicinityPodcast #LocalLeadership #OBIAA

With talk of tourist taxes heating up in the UK, Vicinity and Beyond dives into one of the most important debates in the place management and visitor economy world:

Are Accommodation BIDs (ABIDs) a natural step forward—or a step too far?

In this episode, we explore:

🏨 Where ABIDs came from – how Manchester pioneered the UK model

 💰 How ABIDs differ from traditional BIDs – rateable value levies vs. per-night visitor charges
🗳 Why some ABID ballots fail (or fail to get started) – lessons from Bournemouth, Cambridge, and Chester
⚖️ Tourist taxes vs. ABIDs – a deep dive into the pros, cons, and international comparisons
📈 What the evidence says – do tourist levies really harm tourism?
🔮 What’s next – will ABIDs expand, fade, or coexist with national tourist taxes?

With new models emerging and tourist tax legislation on the horizon, this episode is packed with insights to help you make sense of a fast-changing landscape.

🗣 BID Managers, DMO leaders, local authorities: Share this episode with colleagues and board members to spark strategic discussions about the future of tourism funding.

🎧 Listen now on Vicinity and Beyond via YouTube or your favourite podcast platform.

#BIDs #ABIDs #TouristTax #Placemaking #TourismFunding #VicinityAndBeyond #DestinationMarketing #UKBIDs #LocalGovernment #VisitorEconomy

Welcome to this special bonus episode of Vicinity and Beyond, your go-to podcast for place management professionals. In this briefing, we’re highlighting key areas of focus for new BID Board members and offering a practical refresher for the seasoned pros.

Being on a BID Board is a privilege—and a responsibility. This episode is packed with guidance to help you thrive in your role, including:

✅ What makes a BID successful
 ✅ The statutory duties and responsibilities you now hold
 ✅ The 11 industry standards that define a well-run BID
 ✅ The six key characteristics of outstanding BIDs
 ✅ And the smart questions every board member should be asking

You’ll also get valuable insights on governance, legal compliance, financial oversight, and how to build trust and transparency with levy payers. Plus, we share top tips on how to collaborate effectively, lead with integrity, and keep your BID future-ready.

🗣️ BID Managers: Share this episode with your new and existing board members as part of their induction or ongoing development—it’s designed to empower them with the knowledge and confidence to lead effectively from day one.

Whether you’re just getting started or have years of experience, there’s something here for everyone. So hit play, take notes, and help your BID thrive.

🔔 Subscribe to Vicinity and Beyond on YouTube and your favourite podcast platforms for more expert insights on placemaking, leadership, and BID best practices.

Let’s make our places better—together.

How do we make evidence based decisions?

What makes a Business Improvement District truly successful? In this episode, we explore how to measure the impact of a BID, looking beyond tick-box compliance to real-world value for levy-payers.

Henry Jinman plays the role of a BID manager pitching projects to Dr Julie Grail. Will he get any approved? 

✅ Real project examples and how to evaluate their success
✅ How to track ROI and engagement using tools like Vicinity
✅ Challenges for smaller BIDs and why support structures matter

💬 Featuring insights from BID leaders including Carolyn Brownell, Jill Farnsworth and Sophie Alexander.

🎧 COMING SOON: A bonus 10-min episode for new BID Board members—“Welcome to the Board.”

📢 Subscribe for more episodes exploring best practice in placemaking, governance, and business engagement.

#BIDs #Placemaking #Governance #EconomicDevelopment #VicinityPodcast

Podcast 4 - What is Good Governance? 🎧

A well-run Business Improvement District (BID) depends on strong governance—but what does that mean in practice? In this episode, we explore the key standards, legal obligations, and best practices for BID governance.

🔍 Topics include:
✔ The 11 governance standards recommended by The BID Foundation
✔ The role & legal duties of BID Directors
✔ Transparency, financial accountability & conflict management
✔ Common governance mistakes & how to avoid them

If you’re involved in BIDs, this episode is a must-listen! Hit play now.

#Podcast #BIDs #Governance #BusinessEngagement

What separates a successful Business Improvement District (BID) from an ineffective one?

🔍 Topics include:
✔ The core characteristics of a strong BID
✔ Challenges & criticisms of BIDs—and how to address them
✔ The impact of data, communication & transparency
✔ How Vicinity CRM helps BIDs engage businesses & improve outcomes

If you're involved in a BID or want to understand their impact on places, this is an episode you don’t want to miss! Hit play now.

#Podcast #BIDs #Placemaking #BusinessEngagement

As public services face increasing financial pressures, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are stepping up to fill the gaps. But where’s the line between “essential” and “additional” services? 🤔

In this episode, we dive into:
✅ The original purpose of BIDs and the importance of "additionality"
✅ The impact of declining public sector funding on town centres
✅ Real-world examples of BIDs navigating this challenge
✅ Practical strategies for maintaining focus while adapting to change

Join us as we explore this critical issue and share advice for BIDs facing these pressures. 🎧

In the debut episode of Vicinity and Beyond, Henry Jinman, CEO of Vicinity, is joined by Dr. Julie Grail,  BID expert from the BIDs business. They dive into the complexities of levy collection, exploring why it often falls short of expectations and how this impacts BID managers. Together, they discuss an alternative—self-billing which Julie has already proven with the BID in Worcester and is now working with Vicinity to roll out to more BIDs across the country. Tune in to discover how this new approach could improve data accuracy, speed and total levy collected, improve relationships with levy-payers and significantly reduce costs.