LUCY HARDING: BID offers relief grant to businesses that feel they need it

We can’t please all the people all the time, but we can do our best and one way we have tried to ease the ongoing pressures for our members is to reduce their bills over the last three years.

A bit of background: Nairn Connects Business Improvement District (BID) was voted for in 2018, by the businesses within the Nairn BID area.

It works with the local businesses and the community to essentially make Nairn a better place to work, live and visit.

The businesses within the Nairn BID area pay us a fee or levy based on the rateable value of their premises and that money pays for many of the things the BID does, like the Christmas lights coming up!

Levy bills have landed on the doormats of our members and the Nairn BID team is pleased that for a third year in a row we are able to offer a relief grant to businesses who feel they need it.

The reduction was first initiated in 2020 at the height of the Covid pandemic, when members were offered a 60 per cent relief grant.

Then when things hadn’t quite settled down in 2021, we offered 50 per cent, and now, with businesses facing further uncertainties we have been able to offer 40 per cent for this year.

We are appealing to our members to look out for the pink piece of paper and return it by December 16 at the latest.

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