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.
Earlier this year, Fort William BID received ten fantastic mural proposals from artists across the Highlands and beyond – each offering a creative take on what makes our town unique. After an initial round of feedback from the community, local businesses, property owners, tenants, and the BID Board, three designs have been shortlisted. Now, we’d […]
We are inviting local voices to help shape the town’s next steps. We’re gathering quick, practical feedback on how we can improve the town centre – from retail and events to accessibility, signage, and visitor experience. Your views will directly inform upcoming BID projects, investment priorities, and partnership work over the BID term. Who should […]
BID Fort William was delighted to run a Halloween Art Competition with Inverlochy and Lundavra Primary Schools, celebrating young creativity while encouraging local spend in Fort William. The response from pupils was fantastic. A total of 170 pieces of artwork were submitted across both schools, giving judges Jim and Nicola McCallum of McCallum Art House […]
