By Natasha McLeod, CEO of Chichester BID
Chichester’s independent shops, cafés and restaurants have shown remarkable resilience in recent years but right now, local shoppers have a real opportunity to make a meaningful difference.
Like high streets across the UK, Chichester’s independent businesses are working harder than ever just to stand still. Business rate re-evaluation brings inevitable uncertainty and while new, lower multipliers for hospitality, retail and leisure offer some relief, changes to fixed costs mean fresh challenges for owners already managing tight budgets. The final phasing out of Covid-era rates relief has been partially offset by these new multipliers but belts are being tightened nonetheless. Changes to National Insurance and the National Living Wage put a real strain on owners already stretched thin and energy bills remain stubbornly above what businesses once considered normal – a cost that never quite goes away.
Against this backdrop, choosing to spend locally isn’t simply a nice gesture, it’s an economic lifeline. Every pound spent in an independent Chichester business recirculates within the local economy, sustaining jobs, protecting character and keeping the city’s streets vibrant.
This is where Chichester BID plays a vital role, pooling investment from local businesses to fund collective marketing, events, security and advocacy that no single trader could achieve alone. From seasonal promotions to footfall-driving events, the BID works to make Chichester a more vibrant and compelling place to visit because when local businesses thrive, the whole city thrives with them.
So next time you’re tempted by a click or a retail park, come into Chichester instead. Your custom is someone’s livelihood.