A Business Improvement District (BID) is a defined area in which businesses work together and invest collectively in local improvements. It gives business owners a stronger voice, more influence, and the ability to shape decisions that affect their trading environment.
Across Scotland and the wider UK, BIDs have already helped hundreds of towns and city centres unlock new potential, attract more visitors, and enhance the everyday experience for businesses and communities alike.
From festive lights and family days to market weekends and cultural celebrations, we aim to fund and coordinate events that bring people together and boost the local economy year-round.
Our new voucher scheme makes it easy to give the gift of local shopping while supporting businesses right here in town. By choosing to spend with independent retailers and service providers, every pound stays in Fort William, helping to create jobs, strengthen businesses, and sustain a vibrant town centre.
We’re committed to creating a town centre that businesses and the community can be proud of. We aim to create a place that attracts footfall, encourages longer visits, and supports pride of place.
Thank you to all levy payers who attended the meeting at The Railway Club on 22/1/2026.
A short summary of the discussion, along with the meeting report and End of Year Accounts, will be uploaded shortly to ensure transparency and ongoing access for all levy payers.
If you have any follow-up questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
We are delighted to announce that local artist Mark Faulkner’s design, Our Special Lochaber Oaks, has been selected for the new High Street mural. The project celebrates Fort William’s heritage and will include creative workshops with local primary schools and Room 13.
Comms West, a local internet service provider based in the Ben Nevis Industrial Estate, recently applied for a Property Improvement Grant to enhance the exterior of their new premises.
Learn how BID Fort William makes decisions: from business plan priorities and levy payer feedback to board review.
Highland Cinema in Fort William has been nominated for the British Independent Film Awards Cinema of the Year 2025. The cinema is a key cultural hub for Lochaber, supporting local businesses and drawing visitors into the town centre. By voting for Highland Cinema, you are helping to raise Fort William’s profile nationally while backing the High Street and our community.
