Ripon BID: Celebrating Success & Looking Ahead

Nestled in the heart of North Yorkshire, Ripon may be one of England’s smallest cities, but it’s big on character, charm, and community spirit. From our historic cathedral to our bustling independent shops, artisan markets, and vibrant eateries, Ripon is a place that blends heritage with modern vitality. And over the last few years, Ripon BID has been working hard to make sure our city shines even brighter.

Since launching in Autumn 2021, we’ve invested over £850,000 back into Ripon — funding projects that boost business, improve our streets, and make Ripon a more attractive place to live, work, and visit. On top of that, we’ve secured more than £176,000 in extra grants and income, stretching your investment further without increasing costs.

What We’ve Achieved So Far

📣 Marketing & Promotion

  • Built a dedicated visitor website at visitripon.co.uk (now No.1 on Google for “Events in Ripon”) and linked it with our Ripon BID site.

  • Created strong social media presence — reaching  thousands of people on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

  • Sponsored the Ripon Theatre Festival since 2022, helping audience numbers grow from 2,500 to over 5,500.

  • Produced seasonal trails, family activities, and videos to encourage visitors year-round.

🚶 Access & Facilities

  • Introduced free parking initiatives during busy seasons and roadworks.

  • Lobbied for better coach parking and public transport links, including rail replacement services.

  • Supported pedestrian-friendly spaces like Kirkgate and seasonal “café culture” events in the Market Place.

🌸 City Appearance

  • Added 450+ floral displays, festoon lighting, and funded over 21,000 pieces of chewing gum removed from our streets.

  • Dropped vacant unit rates from 12% to 6% since 2023.

  • Improved signage with new welcome boards, Indie maps, and walking trails.

🛡 Safety & Business Support

  • Expanded Radiolink to 29 Shopwatch radios.

  • Helped businesses save money through specialist advice on utilities, card payments and waste — over £11,000 saved so far.

  • Delivered 27 free training sessions, including first aid for 130+ people.

  • Ran “Totally Locally Ripon” campaigns to promote shopping local, boosting footfall by up to 20% during events.

Looking Ahead

If you are a BID levy payer we want to hear your thoughts — what’s worked well, what could improve, and what new ideas you’d like us to explore. Your feedback will directly shape our next business plan. You can share your views here via our survey: Ripon BID Survey

Together, we’ve already achieved so much — but the best is yet to come. Let’s keep Ripon moving forward.