Our BID
Lincoln City Centre Partnership Trading As Lincoln Business Improvement Group (Lincoln BIG, the ‘Company’), is a not for profit company (company number 04662323) registered in England, limited by guarantee and operate under The Business Improvement Districts (England) Regulations 2004.
Lincoln BIG is a business-led and business-funded body, working to improve and promote Lincoln city centre as a place to live, work, visit and invest. Lincoln BIG has been in existence as a business since 2003 and has been a Business Improvement District (BID) since 2005.
Our philosophy is simple, if the city centre is clean, bright and welcoming with lots of activity and events taking place then more people will visit, and when they do visit they will stay longer.
Our work also ensures that the city centre is a great place in which to operate a business, and a better environment for staff to work in.
We have achieved some great things over the years and at the same time continue to provide our core services to businesses which include employing the city centre wardens, Lincoln in Bloom, Christmas activities, dealing with security incidents, managing bus and car parking deals, and organising events.
Lincoln BIG is a business in its own right, governed by a voluntary Board of Directors representing levy payers and the different sectors within the BID area. The BID Board advises on operational and service delivery issues, oversee performance measurement, and more generally act as the primary consultative and advisory body on BID services. It has responsibility for financial arrangements, contractual obligations, human resources, standards and compliance, and strategic direction.
BID Ballot
Every five years, business ratepayers in the city centre are invited to vote for the continuation of Lincoln BIG for the next five years. All business ratepayers in the area have a vote on the proposals and to go ahead more than 50% of those who vote have to vote 'yes'.' Those in favour must also represent at least 50% of the rateable value of those who vote.
2025 was a ballot year for Lincoln BIG, and the result of the ballot was announced after its Annual General Meeting at Home Nightclub, Park Street, Lincoln on 25th November 2025.
The ballot revealed: 85.6 per cent of voting businesses said YES, together representing a total Rateable Value of £20,208,300 with a 41.96 per cent turnout.
This support means that the Business Improvement Group, which provides a diverse range of support services, can look forward to delivering the exciting raft of pledges outlined in its Business Plan for 2025-2030. Lincoln BIG will do that by investing over £1 million a year (made-up of levy payers’ monies and other income generated) and focussing on three clear priorities – based on ENHANCE, EXPERIENCE and ENGAGE.
Annual Report
The Directors present the report and financial statements for the company for the year ended 30 June 2024. Our latest Annual Report can be downloaded.
BIG Annual Updates
We produce this document and deliver it to all levy paying businesses each year to look back and review the past year as well as a providing a look forward setting out out aims and objectives for the upcoming year.
Lincoln Social Responsibility Charter
We are proud to have been awarded Lincoln City Council's Social Responsibility Charter, and as an Ambassador for the Charter we undertake socially responsible activities for the benefit of our local community as well as our employees.
