What is it like to work for Aberdeen Inspired?

For the past few months I have been supporting the team at Aberdeen Inspired, our city Business Improvement District (BID) organisation and what an eye opener it has been. 

I did not know this before, but it turns out Aberdeen Inspired only exists in five year cycles. Every five years a re-ballot takes place, when levy payers can decide if they want the BID to continue. Levy payers are mostly larger businesses in the city centre who pay a mandatory annual fee (levy) to fund the work of Aberdeen Inspired. 

It’s a concept that originated in North America in the 1970’s. The initiative began after a handful of local businesses realised the potential of pooling their resources, to make the local area more attractive as a leisure, shopping and tourist destination and today there are approximately 1,500 BIDs worldwide.

Initially I supported the business engagement team in advance of a most unfortunately timed re-ballot which was scheduled for April, but sensibly has been postponed to June this year.

More recently I have been working with the team on an exciting new city centre Suspended Signage Scheme (Think Carnaby Street or the existing Art Gallery sign). To fund this ambitious project, Aberdeen Inspired secured a funding grant of ￡485,000 from Scotlands Town Centre Fund in 2019. 

A portion of the fund was used to create two parklets (pocket parks) in the city centre to offer attractive green spaces in previously run down or disused urban areas, so people have somewhere welcoming to relax - the first of its kind for Aberdeen. 

The ￡400,000 Suspended Signage project, utilising the lions share of the grant, is designed to enhance the city centre and make it easier for city centre users and visitors to navigate their way around the city on foot. Proposed new sign locations include West End, George Street, Shiprow, Justice Mill Lane, Merchant Quarter, and more. All important city retail and hospitality destinations and/or areas of historic significance. 

With my background as manager of the Property Sector at Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce, where I had regular dealings with both business owners and council officers in planning and economic development, this project has been a great fit and it has been tremendously encouraging to see the enthusiastic level of stakeholder support Aberdeen Inspired has secured for the scheme. 

I am not surprised by this level of genuine support at all, as I have been equally impressed by the team’s passion and commitment to continue to deliver, under very challenging circumstances, worthwhile and ambitious initiatives and events for the benefit of our city centre. 

You cannot venture out in Aberdeen city centre without coming across an improvement or contribution made possible by the efforts of Aberdeen Inspired. Pulling my hair out during the bleakest January lockdown, as I struggled to find something fun for the family to do, we revisited the NuArt trail as I hadn’t seen all of it, and the rest of my family had hardly seen any. Turns out, it’s one of the best ways to explore the city centre and enjoy a first class FREE cultural experience…and we discovered the “Painted doors” project too - loads of fun!

In just over three months, I have witnessed the seamless delivery of an indoor Christmas market which received rave reviews from both shoppers and stall holders. (“Can we do this again please!”). Yes, it couldn’t be the magical big outdoor Christmas Market we’ve come to love - and my children dearly missed last year - but Aberdeen Inspired leveraged their influence and made it happen. On a smaller scale, sure, but an enjoyable and worthwhile event none the less. 

And in the middle of November last year, Aberdeen Inspired launched the Aberdeen Gift Card. By that stage, the team had already signed up over 150 local businesses to participate, and in a mere six weeks leading up to Christmas, over 2000 gift cards were sold. Did you buy an Aberdeen Gift Card? If you haven’t, you still can. To date, over 4000 cards have been sold worth in excess of ￡150 000 - money that has been ‘banked’ for our city businesses once their doors reopen. 

At present, the team are hard at work to bring back Nuart, reorganising Aberdeen Restaurant Week and promoting and organising the Aberdeen International Comedy Festival, which will (restrictions allowing) make a welcome return in September with cracking headline act Jack Dee, host of the legendary Radio 4 show I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue and star of many other popular shows. Aberdeen Inspired will also be a key contributor in the marketing and support of our city re-awakening campaign (from 26 April), promoting our local businesses and the wider reopening of the city.

A couple of years ago, before we all had to stay safe and stay home, my husband and I discovered Scottish comedian Jim Smith @standupfarmer at the comedy festival and enjoyed a brilliant local night out. Before the show we popped into Brewdog for a pint and a burger and afterwards we stopped off at No10 on the walk home. And this is the bigger point about the comedy festival - it’s fun, but it also creates opportunities for our hospitality venues and even fills hotel rooms. With every event and festival, Aberdeen benefits from the additional spend in our taxis, bars and restaurants, combined with the added benefit of living in a city “where great things happen”, so we don’t always have to jump on a train to Glasgow or Edinburgh for our culture fix. 

In the past 5 years, Aberdeen Inspired has won more industry awards than any of the 300+ BIDs in the UK. Without a doubt, Aberdeen Inspired is one of the best BIDs in the UK. 

I hope that everyone who reads this, who are a levy payer, will think very carefully about their vote when the ballot opens in May and support our city’s BID, so we can continue to see the positive change and determined investment we need to improve Aberdeen’s city centre, and secure it’s future. 

So there you have it - what is it like to work for Aberdeen Inspired? Absolutely f*$@($ inspirational! 

If you would like to find out more about Aberdeen Inspired, take a peek at aberdeeninspired.com to see the latest 5-year business plan or follow them on social.