If successful in the ballot for another term, the focus of the BID will be firmly on supporting the post-Covid recovery of our businesses and securing the future prosperity of Southampton.

It will be working with partners on city-wide programmes to help businesses develop their staff to support economic growth while bringing young people through employment and training activities.

  • Future Workforce: GO! Southampton will be connecting businesses with the Solent Apprenticeship Hub and the Kickstart scheme to boost employment opportunities for young people and to upskill existing staff and working with Solent University and University of Southampton to retain more of our graduates in the city.
  • Future Business: GO! Southampton will commission a retail and leisure gap analysis and use the findings to target and attract new businesses whilst supporting existing businesses to seize new opportunities. With the city council. the BID aims to reduce vacancy rates and develop international partnerships to provide economic, cultural, and social opportunities for business.
  • Future Streets: Another key priority is to animate outdoor spaces through projects such as Southampton Inside Out and by working with businesses, traders' associations and community and residents' groups. New uses will be identified for vacant buildings, collaborating with landlords and local groups to activate commercial space for pop up exhibitions and window displays.
  • Future City: GO! Southampton will work hard to influence strategic partners on major developments including the Mayflower Quarter and the new Local Plan. It will be contributing to the 'QE2 mile' vision, to link the city centre with the port, and identifying new opportunities for businesses to become more sustainable and reduce their environmental impact.