2024 Recapped: A Year of Social Growth and Success
2024 has been a milestone year for Worcester BID, showcasing remarkable achievements across social media engagement, community outreach, and campaign impact. In total, our campaigns were seen by just under 3 million people in 2024.
Here are some highlights that made the year a standout success:
BID Members Card:
2024 saw the successful distribution of approximately 7,500 BID Member Cards, offering access to over 100 exclusive member discounts. Businesses have praised the card for its utility. During the next BID term, the development of the card to transition to a digital version to enhance accessibility and access for business owners to add employees in the future may become an exciting reality – keep your eyes peeled!
Christmas Campaign:
Our Christmas initiatives captured just shy of 1.8 million views through digital advertising, print campaigns, and creative GIFs. Highlights included:
- Features in The Guardian, Metro, and County Lifestyle magazines.
- GIF-based native digital advertising campaigns on Mums Net and more.
- Weekly Worcester News print and digital articles.
Digital and Social Media SuccessWorcester BID amplified its digital presence in 2024, engaging audiences across Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok.Social Media Growth:-
- Instagram following increased by 24% (this is around 14% better than the equivalent page benchmark of growth).
- Facebook reached 260,000 users, with a following of 4,500.
- LinkedIn, despite being a brand new account reached 76,000 users and grew its followers to 561 in a short space of time.
Consistent branding and an enhanced focus on engaging content and campaigns led to increased public and business interactions across all platforms.
Website Engagement:
The Worcester BID website experienced significant traffic gains, with:
- 21,000 visits per month
- The new BID Members Card page – a new top-performing page emerged, demonstrating its popularity as a valuable staff perk in the city.
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Looking Forward
We’re eager to continue building on this momentum; from expanding digital offerings like the BID Members Card to a potential app – to enhancing social media campaigns, 2025 promises even greater community engagement and success.
Want to get involved? Drop us an email by pressing here.
New Protections From Sexual Harassment Are In Force
What Worcester Businesses Need To Know
Did you know that a new legal duty came into force at the end of October 2024? Businesses across the UK are subject to new legal obligations designed to strengthen protections against workplace sexual harassment. This legislative change, aimed at ensuring safer and more respectful working environments, is something all businesses—from small independent shops to larger firms—must address.
At Worcester Business Improvement District (BID), we’re acutely aware of the challenges faced by our business community when navigating legal changes. That’s why we’re committed to supporting our members in adapting to these new requirements effectively.
The new law mandates that employers take proactive steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. This includes implementing clear policies, providing training to staff, and addressing any incidents swiftly and appropriately. For many businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, understanding these requirements can seem daunting. However, failing to comply could result in significant legal and reputational risks.
To aid our members in meeting these new expectations, Worcester BID is offering a free training course, in partnership with The Employment Solicitor, for all members. This practical course has already helped its first cohort of businesses understand their obligations, implement effective preventative measures, and foster a workplace culture that prioritises respect and inclusivity.
By taking part in this training, you’ll gain valuable insights into the law, actionable steps to protect your team, and the confidence to handle potential challenges with professionalism. Worcester BID is proud to provide this support as part of our broader mission to drive business improvement and success in our city via our extensive member training programme.
We strongly encourage all our members to take advantage of this free opportunity. It not only ensures compliance but demonstrates your commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment for your employees and customers alike.
For more information about the training course and to reserve your spot, please contact us at info@worcesterbid.com or press here.
Together, let’s work towards making Worcester a shining example of a thriving and respectful business community.