About

Welcome to The Big Heart of Merthyr Tydfil

Businesses and organisations in Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre have come together to make their voice heard and to work collectively to deliver a range of projects and services that will make a real and lasting difference to their town centre.

The Big Heart of Merthyr Tydfil BID was set up in 2012 after a ballot of town centre businesses and organisations. Since then, it has delivered a range of activities and services against a backdrop of economic uncertainty but also at a time of considerable regeneration in the town centre. In July 2017, the BID was successful in a renewal ballot of 265 town centre businesses, with a 73% yes vote.

Our Business Plan 2022 – 2027, upon which businesses were invited to vote, was based on the information provided to us in an extensive consultation in early 2022. It set out our proposals for 2022 to 2027, including the extension of the BID boundary at the southern end of the town. Merthyr Tydfil voted to retain its Business Improvement District with one of the highest approval ratings ever recorded. A whopping 95% of town centre businesses voted in favour of continuing The Big Heart of Merthyr Tydfil BID for the next five years.

Background

Businesses and organisations voted to introduce The Big Heart of Merthyr Tydfil Business Improvement District (BID) back in 2012. In the subsequent period, the BID has played a big part in the many positive changes that have transformed Merthyr Tydfil. During that time it has invested over £900,000 into the town centre. It has worked with businesses, and public and third sector partners to make the town a more welcoming, attractive and safe place to visit, work and crucially to run a business. The BID invested a further £800,000 into the town centre between 2017 and 2022.

A BID is a business-led and business-funded organisation formed to improve a defined area, in our case Merthyr Tydfil town centre. In essence, businesses decide what improvements they want to make to their town and what projects and services will add value to their business. They determine how these will be managed and delivered.

The BID is funded through a BID levy, based on the rateable value of each property, and the money is ring-fenced and used by the BID to deliver the business plan. Once a majority vote in favour of the BID has been achieved, the BID levy becomes mandatory on all eligible ratepayers.

Rateable values in Merthyr Tydfil have come down on average over 35% as part of the rates revaluation which came into operation in April 2017. For this reason, the levy will be set at 1.8% from October 2017 with an annual allowance of up to 2% for inflation. The BID delivers services across several key themes and you can find out more by clicking on the links below:

Our BID Board is made up of owners and managers of local businesses, landlords and representatives of the public and third sectors. They bring together their expertise, ideas, and enthusiasm in order to guide the BID forward and support the work of the BID coordinator. Independent and national businesses are represented as are the daytime and evening economies as we try to develop and deliver the best possible programme for the whole of the town.

Meet the Team

The board’s members are happy to meet you or visit you at your premises to discuss any aspect of the BID’s work and what it can do to support you.

  • Huw Williams – Aber Arts Wales (chair)
  • Geraint Thomas- Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
  • Carl Mason – Barclays
  • Karen Courts – Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association (treasurer)
  • Lynzy Price – Vodafone
  • Lee Simmonds – St Tydfil Shopping Centre
  • Sarah Newton – Y Dic Penderyn
  • Sarah Hicks – Marketing Officer
  • Elizabeth Bedford – BID Co-ordinator

BID Coordinator Elizabeth Bedford joined The Big Heart of Merthyr Tydfil in January 2020 and brings with her over 25 years of experience in Business Development and Project Management. Elizabeth is based in the BID office at Redhouse Cymru and is happy to meet businesses there or to pop out and visit you if that is easier. Feedback on ongoing projects and ideas for the future are most welcome, so please do get in touch.

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