Scheme promises to revitalise Nairn for locals and tourists alike
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A SCHEME designed to revitalise Nairn as a first-rate seaside shopping resort moved a step forward this week with the appointment of a project manager.
Tourism consultant Alan Rankin, former chief executive of Cairngorms Partnership and current manager of Scotland’s Marine Tourism Strategy, has signed up to a contract to set up the initiative called a Business Improvement District Scheme (Bid).
The high-flyer, who sailed single-handedly around the UK and Ireland several years ago, stopping at ten ports to run 10k for charity, has taken another Bid scheme in Crieff to a successful ballot.
He will be focussed on bringing Nairn’s Bid proposal to a ballot in June 2018.
If voted through by traders, the Bid scheme would work by charging shop owners an annual levy, usually between one per cent and four per cent of rateable value.
The money would then be put into one big pot and spent on town centre and harbour improvements to boost tourism and potentially open the door to other larger funding streams.
The Nairn Bid steering group said: “From the research undertaken, the typical annual budget for a town of Nairn’s size would be about £150,000, and the typical small business would pay an annual levy in the range of £150 to £250.
“Big businesses like supermarkets would pay an annual levy of the order of £5,000.”
Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands enterprise and Highland Council have £50,000 to get the Bid scheme off the ground.
Mr Rankin said: “I am delighted to be joining the Bid team and look forward to meeting local business owners, event managers and interest groups. There is enormous potential for a successful Bid to contribute to an exciting future for the area.“
Michael Green, the Bid steering group’s co-chairman and Highland Independent councillor, said he was “delighted” to have secured Mr Rankin’s service.
Cllr Greene said: “The Nairnshire BID will provide the capacity to deliver a local business plan, promoting economic growth in Nairnshire.
“Central to any plan will be town centre regeneration and harbour development and Alan’s broad experience in tourism, destination development, marine tourism and Bid schemes provides the Bid steering group with invaluable access and expertise.
“Exciting times lie ahead for Nairnshire and Alan’s appointment is a massive step forward in that process.”
Michael Boylan, co-chairman of Bid steering group and chairman of the Association of Nairn Businesses, said: “We were in the lucky position of having more than one company who wanted to work with us.
“This shows that Nairn and the local area is starting to be seen as somewhere with a bright future.
“We are delighted to have Alan join the team.
He has successfully led previous Bid set ups and has excellent experience in a range of business engagement roles that will greatly assist us.”
The first stage of setting up a Bid process involves preparing a business plan, consulting the business and wider community, and effectively selling the Bid concept to the local business community, who will be paying for it through the annual levy.
Businesses are balloted and, if they approve, the second stage involves identifying directors of the Bid company who will deliver its five-year business plan.
The Bid levy charged to traders is separate to business rates and can only be drawn down by the directors and used to fund the projects and other services which are detailed in the business plan.
The Inverness Bid scheme was established in April 2008 with more than 850 business members.
In addition to setting up a coach ambassador scheme to welcome visitors arriving by coach to the city’s summer drop-off point on Ardross Street, Inverness Bid jointly-funded with Inverness Common Good Fund street security guards and taxi marshalls and co-ordinates nearly 800 flora displays per year. Inverness Bid also led successful efforts to control the problem of seagulls swooping at shoppers. Some 2433 eggs were removed from nests last year.
