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.
Highland Council has published the draft Fort William Integrated Transport Plan and is seeking input from businesses across the town.
Transport infrastructure directly affects trading conditions, staff access, servicing, customer movement and long-term investment confidence. It is important that local business voices are clearly represented in this process.
We encourage levy payers to review the proposals and complete the survey to ensure commercial considerations are fully understood.
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.
If you’ve recently walked along Fort William High Street, you may have noticed something new catching the eye — a striking mural now gracing the side of The Highland Bookshop. This vibrant piece of public art is more than decoration; it’s a story of family, healing, and the enduring creative spirit that links Scotland’s Highlands to New Zealand.
The Ben Nevis Guest House recently applied for a Property Improvement Grant to replace and upgrade the fencing surrounding their car park and gardens. The previous fence, while functional, had not been built to withstand the unique local weather conditions and required frequent maintenance.
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.
