Falkirk Delivers – BID Renewal Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Business Improvement District (BID)?

A Business Improvement District (BID) is a defined area where businesses work together and invest collectively in projects and services designed to improve the local trading environment.

The BID delivers additional services and support that would not otherwise exist, helping make Falkirk a better place to work, visit and do business.

Falkirk Town Centre BID is managed by Falkirk Delivers. We are proud to be one of Scotland’s longest-serving BIDs, delivering projects, events, business support and investment for Falkirk businesses for the past 18 years.

All BIDs are required to hold a renewal ballot every five years.

This gives businesses the opportunity to decide whether the BID should continue delivering services and projects for a further term.

You will receive your ballot papers during the week commencing 20 July:

  • Voting is confidential
  • Fill out your yellow ballot paper
  • Simply place a cross in either the ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ box
  • Return your completed ballot paper using the prepaid envelope provided

The ballot closes on 3 September 2026, with the result announced shortly after.

The BID ballot is a confidential postal vote.

For the BID to continue:

  • At least 25% of eligible businesses by number and rateable value must vote
  • More than 50% of votes cast must vote in favour
  • Businesses voting in favour must represent more than 50% of the total rateable value of votes cast

Full ballot information will be included in the BID Business Plan.

If businesses vote YES, Falkirk Delivers will continue operating for another five-year term from 2026–2031, allowing continued investment in projects, services and support that benefit Falkirk businesses and the wider town centre.

This includes continued delivery of:

  • Business support and training
  • Events and footfall-driving activity
  • Marketing and promotion
  • Safety initiatives
  • Street Ambassador and BID Handyman services
  • Grants, funding support and town centre improvements

For the BID ballot to be successful:

  1. At least 25% of eligible businesses must take part in the vote
  2. More than half of the businesses that vote must vote YES
  3. Businesses voting YES must also represent more than half of the total rateable value voting in the ballot.

Every vote matters, make sure your business has its say!

If not, enough businesses vote yes and the BID renewal ballot is unsuccessful Falkirk Delivers would cease to operate and all BID-funded projects, services and support would come to an end with immediate effect.

Without the BID, the additional investment currently supporting Falkirk town centre would stop and there would be no single organisation coordinating these initiatives or representing businesses collectively.

  • Street Ambassador and BID Handyman services
  • Shop Safe Radio and Retailers Against Crime support
  • Producers Market and major event days
  • Marketing campaigns and social media promotion
  • Business Improvement Grants
  • Training, workshops and drop-in business support
  • Access to external funding opportunities
  • A collective voice representing Falkirk businesses

If the BID ballot is successful, all eligible businesses within the BID boundary are required to pay the annual BID levy. Micro businesses with a rateable value of under £2000 are exempt. More on this below.

The levy is used entirely to deliver BID projects, services and support for Falkirk businesses.

The BID levy is based on your property’s rateable value, meaning the amount you pay reflects the size of your business premises.

For the 2026–2031 BID term, businesses within the BID boundary with a rateable value below £2,000 will not be required to pay the BID levy and will therefore not be eligible to vote in the ballot. However, these businesses will still be able to become voluntary BID members for an annual fee of £100.

Rateable Value From                Rateable Value To   Annual Levy

£2,000.00      £4,999            £100

£5,000            £9,999            £150

£10,000         £14,999         £200

£15,000         £19,999         £300

£20,000         £24,999         £425

£25,000         £29,999         £525

£30,000         £34,999         £650

£35,000         £39,999         £750

£40,000         £44,999         £850

£45,000         £49,999         £950

£50,000         £54,999         £1,075

£55,000         £64,999         £1,325

£65,000         £74,999         £1,575

£75,000         £99,999         £1,850

£100,000       £149,999       £2,125

£150,000       £199,999       £3,250

£200,000       £249,999       £4,250

£250,000       £349,999       £5,800

£350,000       £449,999       £7,400

£450,000       £549,999       £8,900

£550,000       £649,999       £11,400

£650,000       £749,999       £13,900

£750,000       £849,999       £16,400

£850,000       £999,999       £17,400

£1,000,000    Upwards        £17,500

Further levy details can be found in the BID Business Plan and Next Steps documents.

If the BID ballot is successful and the majority of businesses vote in favour of the BID, then the levy becomes mandatory for all eligible businesses within the BID area, regardless of how they voted.

The proposed BID boundary will expand to include areas such as parts of Meeks Road, Grahams Road, Galloway Street, McFarlane Street and Central Retail Park.

This reflects how Falkirk now operates as one connected trading environment.

The expanded boundary will allow for:

  • Better coordination across Falkirk
  • Stronger collaboration between businesses
  • Improved safety and environmental initiatives
  • Greater impact from marketing and events
  • A more joined-up approach to supporting the town centre

For a relatively modest annual levy, businesses benefit from a wide range of services, projects and support designed to strengthen Falkirk town centre.

Benefits include:

  • Increased footfall through events and promotions
  • Social media marketing and business spotlight campaigns
  • Business grants, training and funding support
  • Improved safety initiatives and crime reduction partnerships
  • Street Ambassador and BID Handyman support
  • Seasonal campaigns and town-wide promotions
  • Networking opportunities and business engagement
  • A stronger collective voice representing businesses

Over the last term, Falkirk Delivers has delivered hundreds of projects and secured significant external funding to support the town centre.

The more you get involved in our activities, events and projects, the more your business will benefit.

The BID supports all sectors across Falkirk town centre, not just retail.

Many BID services directly benefit hospitality, office, leisure, service and professional businesses through:

  • Improved town centre safety and cleanliness
  • Increased visitor numbers and footfall
  • Training and staff development opportunities
  • Cost-saving support and funding advice
  • Marketing and promotion
  • Networking and partnership opportunities
  • Representation on key town centre issues

A stronger and more vibrant town centre benefits everyone operating within it.

The BID aims to deliver a return on investment that far exceeds the annual levy businesses contribute. Wherever possible, Falkirk Delivers works to help make the BID levy cost neutral through direct business support, grants, funding opportunities, training, marketing, cost-saving initiatives and external investment secured for the town centre.

By pooling resources collectively, Falkirk businesses can deliver projects, services and opportunities that would be difficult for individual businesses to achieve alone.

Over the last BID term, Falkirk Delivers has:

  • Delivered major events and footfall initiatives
  • Secured over £1m in external funding
  • Supported businesses through grants, training and one-to-one support
  • Delivered practical safety and environmental improvements
  • Provided cost-saving advice and support initiatives
  • Promoted Falkirk through coordinated marketing campaigns

The BID model allows businesses to invest collectively in the future of Falkirk while benefiting from support and opportunities that can directly offset the cost of the levy.

Falkirk Delivers plays a key role in supporting businesses, improving the town centre and attracting investment into Falkirk. At a time when public sector funding continues to reduce and operating costs are increasing, the BID provides a proactive way for businesses to work together and protect the future of the town centre.

The BID does not replace services delivered by Falkirk Council. While the Council provides statutory services across the area using public funding and business rates, Falkirk Delivers focuses on additional business-led projects, services and initiatives designed specifically to improve the trading environment and support local businesses.

These additional services include:

  • Events and footfall-driving campaigns
  • Business marketing and promotion
  • BID Handyman and Street Ambassador services
  • Business grants and training support
  • Retail crime initiatives and partnership working
  • Additional town centre improvements and business engagement

The BID also gives businesses a stronger collective voice, allowing local priorities to be shaped directly by the business community. By working in partnership with Falkirk Council, Police Scotland and other organisations, Falkirk Delivers is able to secure additional investment and deliver projects that would not otherwise happen through public sector funding alone.

During the past BID term, Falkirk Delivers has delivered a wide range of projects and initiatives including:

Business Support & Training

  • AI, social media and photography training
  • Funding and grant advice
  • Business drop-in sessions
  • Free online training portal
  • Shopfront and signage support
  • Networking and staffing workshops

Safety & Security

  • Shop Safe Radio scheme
  • Retailers Against Crime partnership
  • Safety forums and business training
  • Town centre partnership working with Police Scotland
  • Anti-social behaviour reporting support

Events & Footfall

  • Monthly Producers Market
  • Dino Day, Enchanted Market and family trails
  • Christmas events and seasonal campaigns
  • Restaurant Week and Falkirk Pub Trail
  • Community and partnership events

Regeneration & Environmental Improvements

  • Floral enhancement programmes
  • Streetscape improvements
  • Public realm support
  • Town centre cleanliness initiatives
  • Creative space projects

What are businesses saying about Falkirk Delivers?

Recent consultation results showed strong support for continuing the BID:

  • 86% want Falkirk Delivers to continue for another five-year term
  • 82% highlighted Business Improvement Grants as a priority
  • 76% value social media promotion
  • 75% identified Retailers Against Crime as important
  • 65% support a levy increase to protect services

Businesses told us their top priorities are:

  1. Driving footfall through events and activities
  2. Supporting access to grants, funding and training
  3. Tackling anti-social behaviour and shoplifting
  4. Keeping the town centre clean, safe and welcoming

Voting YES means continued investment in:

  • Business support and grants
  • Events and footfall-driving activity
  • Marketing and promotion
  • Safety and crime reduction initiatives
  • Street Ambassador and BID Handyman services
  • Training and funding opportunities
  • Environmental improvements
  • A stronger collective voice for Falkirk businesses

Together, we can continue building a stronger, safer and more vibrant Falkirk town centre for the next five years.