Westside BID is backing a national campaign to demand that the government supports businesses hit by surging energy costs.
The campaign is being orchestrated by Croydon BID who wants to challenge the new prime minister – set to be Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak – to quickly create a package to assist the business sector.
Matthew Sims, chief executive of Croydon BID, said: “Businesses are faced with staggering costs that many will not be able to meet, and many will go out of business if the government does not intervene with the necessary support. Without it, our high streets will struggle, leaving our cities and communities facing oblivion.”
Mr Sims explained that he was working with the Association of Town and City Management (ATCM) and the BID Foundation to launch the campaign to highlight the need, put forward solutions and lobby.
The campaign aims to engage national communications and creative agencies to support the campaign in time to launch it on 7 September – the day after the announcement of the new prime minister.
Mr Sims added: “A working group has been created and will meet at the end of this week. We need to confirm simple straight forward asks that are not only easy to understand but fully costed.
“This will allow us to communicate directly with the new prime minister, chancellor and secretary of state for business.”
Mike Olley, general manager of Westside BID, said: “We are pleased to back this campaign planned by Croydon BID, which is well-positioned geographically and in terms of campaign experience to demand that businesses are listened to.
“Such a campaign could not come at a better time as Westside businesses are already feeling the pinch of rising energy costs and this could quickly turn into disaster for many if something is not done in the very near future.”
Mike Olley’s blog on the energy crisis can be read here: https://westsidebid.co.uk/2022/09/01/if-you-see-sid-tell-him-how-energy-nationalisation-is-making-us-all-poorer/
